New player deals signed at Sri Lanka Cricket

Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday confirmed that the signing of the annual contracts offered to the national team has been finalised. These contracts were given to 23 national players who were categorised into four groups. (See box)

SLC said that initially, the original contracts were handed over to the players by officials of SLC last week, explaining the changes in the new agreement to each category of players. Upon a request made by the players, a meeting was organised in the presence of the office bearers of the executive committee of Sri Lanka Cricket to further explain the rationale of components of the contract presented for signing.

At the said meeting, which was held on 2 March, Sri Lanka Cricket very clearly stated their intention was not to deviate from the context of the original contract.

The newly appointed national captain Angelo Mathews, on behalf of the national team players, requested a meeting on the following day with the Chairman of Selectors Sanath Jayasuriya. Upon a request from Jayasuriya, SLC duly agreed to grant approval for the meeting and it was held at the SLC premises with Team Manager Michael De Zoysa.

At this meeting, the players requested the reinstatement of the guarantee fee component which was taken off by SLC this year. The guarantee fee is a payment made by the ICC to member nations for participation in the ICC events. Earlier, players were allocated of 25% of the fee paid to SLC. The players requested the fee to be paid to them, from which they would reallocate the funds received via the guarantee fee towards cricket development activities in the country. However, SLC rejected the proposal put forward by the players as it was felt that the purview of cricket development activities should be vested with the governing body rather than with the players.

The amounts allocated to the 23 national players from the current contracts amounts to 67% of the 2013 revenue generated by Sri Lanka Cricket.

If SLC agreed to grant the players’ request to include the guarantee fee component to the contract value, SLC would have had to give 81% of its annual revenue towards the 23 cricketers, leaving no provision for a successful all-round year. SLC’s stance towards this matter was maintained taking in to account all cricketing interests pertaining to Sri Lanka. On 4 March, all cricketers who were offered contracts (with the exception of Mahela Jayawardena who is currently overseas) signed the same showing the players’ solidarity towards Sri Lanka Cricket.

Sri Lanka Cricket expressed its gratitude to Minister of Sports Mahindananda Aluthgamage for his confidence shown towards Sri Lanka Cricket, Chairman of Selectors Sanath Jayasuriya for his effort and time to solve this matter, and the new manager Micheal De Zoysa for the services rendered in player communications.

A special mention of gratitude was also given to the players for the level of understanding shown in this matter. Notable appreciation also went out to the Sri Lankan media for the responsible manner in which this sensitive matter was handled.