SLC says working on formula to solve row over payments
As the standoff between the Sri Lanka Cricket administration and the National cricketers over the payment of ICC guarantee money continues, Sri Lanka Cricket expresses hope that a new formula will pave the way for an amicable settlement in the next few days.
A senior official who opted to remain anonymous told the Sunday Times their formula would be beneficial to both parties.
Earlier, the cash-strapped SLC had couriered the contract documents to the players who were engaged in the Asia Cup tournament in Bangladesh but they refused to sign them.The players are demanding the 20% ICC guarantee money which has been given to them since 2010 when the board was run by an interim administration led by D.S. de Silva.
The SLC official said, “The ICC provides this money to Sri Lanka for using the images of the Lankan cricketers for commercial purposes and we feel that certainly they are entitled to a portion of it. However the 20% what they are demanding works to around Rs. 234 million per player. We feel the crux of the matter lies at this point.
“Firstly we feel that any sum that is paid should be paid on a pro-rata basis, with the seniors who have been serving the Lankan cricket cause being given the priority. However at the same time, we feel that the quantum of 20% is too high. Right now we are ascertaining the portion that would be fair by both sides.
“At the same time we are also making a study of how the other cricket administrations are handling the ICC guarantee money. At the same time we also must study if a portion of this sum is already included in their contract fees. A few years ago, a top-rung national cricketer’s annual salary was around US$ 80,000. But now the top rung is being paid around US$ 145,000 annually.
“We will make the study within the next few days and forward our proposal to the SLC executive committee at our next meeting which is scheduled for March 20”.
The official explained the portion that is retained by the administration is utilised for the development of the game in the country. He added, “We have drawn up a five-year development plan for cricket in the country and this is the money that we have towards that purpose.”
However, earlier the SLC administration was on a stubborn stance and was of the view that the cricketers were paid enough and the 20% of the ICC guarantee money amounted to about 70% of its income. Prior to their departure to Bangladesh, the standoff between the players and the administration came to a boiling point and only the intervention of the Selection Committee chairman Sanath Jayasuriya prevented a total disaster and the players then took wing for their assignment.