SLC tells cricketers: Sign the contract and earn US$ 500,000 a year
Sri Lanka Cricket’s strong man and secretary Nishantha Ranatunga says national cricketers who are in a standoff with the authorities will have to sign their annual central contracts on offered terms, even though they are on a high winning the T-20 World Cup.
As the standoff between the players and the authorities continues into the third month with cricketers demanding a 12 per cent share of the US$ 8.9 million ICC guarantee money paid to the Lankan cricket’s governing body annually, while SLC insists that it will pay only 6 per cent of the ICC payment.
The SLC secretary contends that the T-20 win was the result of a well rounded effort. - File Pic
Ranatunga said: “Though the cricketers played and won the T-20 title in the middle, there was a lot of input infused to that effort from many a corner. Besides, as administrators we have to work with an eye to the future and not on short-term populist decisions.”
The SLC secretary said like the players, there were others who should be recognised for this achievement. He said the coaching staff that comprises two former national greats Marvan Atapattu and Chaminda Vaas, fielding coach Ruwan Kalpage, National Coach Paul Farbrace and the National Selection committee headed by Sanath Jayasuriya played a pivotal role in this success.
Ranatunga said Jayasuriya on his part kept a close tab on the fitness of each player in consultation with the coaching staff.
“So much so we as administrators kept Chathuranga de Silva there in Bangladesh on the board’s expense as a ready replacement, because they were worried about the injury of Mahela Jayawardena,” he said.
He also added that besides these back-end movers, the ‘A’ team management that includes coach Romesh Kaluwitharana and manager Jayantha Seneviratne from which up to seven budding cricketers were elevated to the national squad in the past few months played a huge role in this achievement.
Then the backup coaching staff which comprises persons like Champaka Ramanayake, Piyal Wijetunga, Anusha Samaranayake, Sumithra Warnakulasuriya and Roger Wijesuriya also put in their share of expertise to make this national cricket squad a success.
“So this has been a rounded team effort, where a lot of input has come from various quarters and the success cannot be hijacked by three or four individuals. Now that they won a trophy finally, there are vibrations and even some players tend to think that they are indispensable. But, remember we had come to the post and were not able to cross it in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012. That hurt us and as administrators we too put in a lot of thought on how to cross the barrier.”
Ranatunga pointed out cricket belongs to all generations of cricketers – cricketers of the past, the present and the future get paid for their performance and skill and as administrators they have the FTP of Sri Lanka covered for the next seven years and that is what generates the income for the sustenance of the game in the country.
The SLC secretary added: “With what we are offering, a top grade cricketer, if he plays without a break, will be able to earn around US$ 500,000 within this calendar year. This covers all the monies that they could earn by playing the game barring their own advertising income. That is big money. Then how can they say that they are at a loss, with what is on offer?”
When asked how the cricketers have been showing up for national duty minus a proper contract, Ranatunga said: “For the ICC tournament, the players signed the tripartite contract which was the squad terms. Now it is the England tour. By then if they have not signed the central contract, they will have to sign the tour contract. As far they are on a binding while a series is on, it is good.” – SRP