SLC gets tough on retiring players
After three national players announced their retirement within a span of three days Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) made a sudden resolution on retiring players and the issuance of ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOC), as the board showed its intention to get tough on players who are more tempted to play franchise cricket than turning out for the country.
The Executive Committee of SLC had their meeting on Friday to discuss the unexpected development of ‘player exodus’ which may take place in numbers, according to informed sources, in days and months to come.
This has resulted in SLC making three decisions where players intending to retire should provide the board prior notice within or before three months if they wish to retire. In addition SLC will now issue NOCs to such retired players only after they have completed a period of six months from the day of retirement.
“The executive committee of SLC at a meeting held on January 7 took the following decisions in respect of players that have retired and/or intend to retire from national cricket. National players who intend to retire from national cricket should provide three months’ notice to SLC of their intention to retire. Retired national players who wish to obtain NOCs to play in overseas franchise leagues will only be issued to such players who have completed six months of their effective date of retirement,” issuing an official statement, SLC said.
In addition SLC has also come to a conclusion on retired players who intend to play in league and franchise cricket, drawing a new rule that they should play a certain amount of cricket at domestic level in order to be eligible.
“Retired national players will be considered eligible for local leagues such as the LPL, only if they have played 80% of matches in the Domestic Cricket Competitions conducted in the season prior to the conducting of the league,” the statement added.
The decisions has been enacted with immediate effect as SLC gears up to tackle a potential mass exodus of national players. However SLC had not mentioned if these decisions will affect players who are not under its contracts or players who have opted only to play county and league cricket overseas.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 30, ‘resigned’ from Sri Lanka Cricket citing personal matters on January 5, while later on the same day Angelo Perera, 31, too announced his retirement from international cricket. Unlike Rajapaksa, Perera clearly stated that he intends to play franchise cricket and migrate to another country to continue cricket.
On Friday, Sri Lanka opener Danushka Gunathilaka announced that he intends to retire from Test cricket.
Last year three players announced their retirement prematurely. On July 31, 2021, allrounder Isuru Udana retired from international cricket, and he currently has a busy schedule playing franchise cricket around the globe including the IPL, PSL, BPL and Caribbean League. He was 32 at the time of retirement.
Thisara Perera was 31 when he announced his retirement on May 3, 2021. He too continues to play franchise cricket around the world. Shehan Jayasuriya was 29 when he parted with Sri Lanka cricket and is currently in the USA, where he intends to continue his playing career. Left-arm spinner Amila Aponso, still 28, hadn’t announced his retirement but he is living the USA since June 2021 playing domestic cricket there. Former ODI skipper Upul Tharanga (36) too retired last year and he was underutilised for the batting skill he possess, but still goes strong in franchise cricket overseas.