By Channaka de Silva
Sri Lanka national cricket selectors seem to have shut the national team door firmly on the face of struggling legend Sanath Jayasuriya, as they decided to drop the veteran all-rounder from a list of players to be contracted for the next year, selection committee sources told “Daily Mirror”.
The 38-year old all rounder who has represented the country in 110 tests and 411 one day internationals, retired from tests last year and was dropped for the current tour of West Indies following poor form.
Jayasuriya is one of the highest paid six top players on the list currently earning 100,000 US dollars (App. 10.7 Million Sri Lankan Rupees) per annum. Sri Lanka cricket offered A grade contracts last year to Jayasuriya along with Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Marvan Atapattu.
National selectors have picked only four players – Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Murali and Vaas for the next year with Atapattu announcing his retirement last year to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Two months ago, Jayasuriya became the third highest paid player of the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he was sold for a whopping 975,000 US dollars at a players’ auction.
Jayasuriya will only be offered tour contracts if he is selected, selection committee source added.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee will approve the new contracts at their next executive committee meeting after interim committee chief Arjuna Ranatunga returns from a private overseas tour according to Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Officer Duleep Mendis.
“We will offer the player contracts after the interim committee approves the list. There are a few issues still to be discussed such as the amount of money offered for each contract category and the composition of players in each category” said Mendis.
Last year, the five contract categories A,B,C,D and E were offered 100,000, 60,000, 45,000, 35,000 and 25,000 US dollars respectively. Sources said that there is likely to be a ten percent increase in contract figures for all the categories this year.Sources also revealed that players have requested SLC to allow players’ wives to be on overseas tours with the team and also to make some adjustments to the insurance cover.
For the second year running, national selectors have also picked 16 “A” team players and have left out the domestic season’s several star performers paving them the way to accept contracts to play in the banned ICL.
“We have made it clear that players who take part in the ICL will not be considered for Sri Lanka at any level” said Mendis.
Among the conspicuous stars overlooked for contracts are last year’s most outstanding player of the premier league Anil Rideegammanagedara Sri Lanka players Gayan Wijekoon, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Hasantha Fernanado, Nuwan Zoysa and consistent performers such as Sajeewa Weerakoon, Shanuka Dissnayake, Anushka Polonowita and Chamara Komasaru.
A surprise selection for the “A” team is Lassana Dias of Badureliya Sports Club.
The national selectors picked a list of 18 “A” team players for the first time last year to be offered contracts, amidst the alleged differences between Selection chief Ashantha de Mel and the then SLC interim committee chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa.A selection committee source said that players for the contracts was picked this year as part of the planning process for the 2011 World Cup and also according the last year’s performance.
Last year, players were paid match fees of US $ 3000 per Test and US $ 1800 per ODI, in addition to their contract fees and those figures are also likely to be increased this year.
Contracted players are also entitled to various other allowances such as the seniority payment, tour fees, win bonuses, sponsorship money and prize money.
Sri Lanka “A” players picked for contracts
Tharanga Paranawithana, Mahela Udawatte, Kanchana Gunawardena, Thilina Kandamby, Gihan Rupasinghe, Kaushal Silva, Dilruwan Perera, Angelo Matthews, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Chanaka Welagadara, Sujeewa Silva, Thilina Thushra Mirando, Dhammika Prasad, Ajantha Mendis, Lassana Dias, Sachitra Senanayake
Sri Lanka national cricket selectors seem to have shut the national team door firmly on the face of struggling legend Sanath Jayasuriya, as they decided to drop the veteran all-rounder from a list of players to be contracted for the next year, selection committee sources told “Daily Mirror”.
The 38-year old all rounder who has represented the country in 110 tests and 411 one day internationals, retired from tests last year and was dropped for the current tour of West Indies following poor form.
Jayasuriya is one of the highest paid six top players on the list currently earning 100,000 US dollars (App. 10.7 Million Sri Lankan Rupees) per annum. Sri Lanka cricket offered A grade contracts last year to Jayasuriya along with Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Marvan Atapattu.
National selectors have picked only four players – Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Murali and Vaas for the next year with Atapattu announcing his retirement last year to join the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL).
Two months ago, Jayasuriya became the third highest paid player of the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he was sold for a whopping 975,000 US dollars at a players’ auction.
Jayasuriya will only be offered tour contracts if he is selected, selection committee source added.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee will approve the new contracts at their next executive committee meeting after interim committee chief Arjuna Ranatunga returns from a private overseas tour according to Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Executive Officer Duleep Mendis.
“We will offer the player contracts after the interim committee approves the list. There are a few issues still to be discussed such as the amount of money offered for each contract category and the composition of players in each category” said Mendis.
Last year, the five contract categories A,B,C,D and E were offered 100,000, 60,000, 45,000, 35,000 and 25,000 US dollars respectively. Sources said that there is likely to be a ten percent increase in contract figures for all the categories this year.Sources also revealed that players have requested SLC to allow players’ wives to be on overseas tours with the team and also to make some adjustments to the insurance cover.
For the second year running, national selectors have also picked 16 “A” team players and have left out the domestic season’s several star performers paving them the way to accept contracts to play in the banned ICL.
“We have made it clear that players who take part in the ICL will not be considered for Sri Lanka at any level” said Mendis.
Among the conspicuous stars overlooked for contracts are last year’s most outstanding player of the premier league Anil Rideegammanagedara Sri Lanka players Gayan Wijekoon, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Hasantha Fernanado, Nuwan Zoysa and consistent performers such as Sajeewa Weerakoon, Shanuka Dissnayake, Anushka Polonowita and Chamara Komasaru.
A surprise selection for the “A” team is Lassana Dias of Badureliya Sports Club.
The national selectors picked a list of 18 “A” team players for the first time last year to be offered contracts, amidst the alleged differences between Selection chief Ashantha de Mel and the then SLC interim committee chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa.A selection committee source said that players for the contracts was picked this year as part of the planning process for the 2011 World Cup and also according the last year’s performance.
Last year, players were paid match fees of US $ 3000 per Test and US $ 1800 per ODI, in addition to their contract fees and those figures are also likely to be increased this year.
Contracted players are also entitled to various other allowances such as the seniority payment, tour fees, win bonuses, sponsorship money and prize money.
Sri Lanka “A” players picked for contracts
Tharanga Paranawithana, Mahela Udawatte, Kanchana Gunawardena, Thilina Kandamby, Gihan Rupasinghe, Kaushal Silva, Dilruwan Perera, Angelo Matthews, Kaushalya Weeraratne, Chanaka Welagadara, Sujeewa Silva, Thilina Thushra Mirando, Dhammika Prasad, Ajantha Mendis, Lassana Dias, Sachitra Senanayake
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