Sri Lankan players have reportedly refused to sign the new performance-based contracts that have been offered to them by the cricket board.
Nishan Premathiratne, the lawyer representing the players in the case, has said that the players will participate in the next England series without acquiring contracts. On England’s tour, the Lankans will play three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches.
“Even when players are refused pay, they will play for the country because that is their main objective,” the lawyer has confirmed.
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Former skipper Angelo Mathews and Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne will face the biggest cuts if the contracts are accepted. Mathews was offered $80,000 annually and Karunaratne $70,000. Both players were previously paid $130,000 and $100,000, respectively.
Moreover, all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva and wicket-keeper Niroshan Dikwella have also stood against the team’s decision despite being offered the highest remuneration of $100,000 each.
The schemes were framed by a cricket board panel that includes ex-Sri Lankan captain Aravinda de Silva and former Australian player Tom Moody.
The cricketers are not only upset about the pay scenario, but they have not seconded the board’s decision to make public their salaries. However, the board is yet to release an official statement on the matter.