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| Thilan
Samaraweera |
Thilan Samaraweera, who, of late, has become one of the most reliable batsmen in the Lankan line-up, has been included in category two of the SLC yearly contract.
Samaraweera, who was overlooked for the contract by the Arjuna Ranatunga-led administration last year, came back with a vengeance during the last year marking his comeback into the Test arena with a fighting century against the West Indies at the Port of Spain, making a knock of 125.
This he followed with 127 and a 67 not out versus high-riding India at the SSC and Galle. Though he did not get a century against
Bangladesh, he made impressive scores of 90, 62 and 77 in Dhaka and Chittagong.
However, he made the best in his Test career against Pakistan by scoring back-to-back double centuries of 231 and 214 in Karachi and Lahore thus parachuting into the category two.
The other player to be included in category two is free scoring Tillekeratne Dilshan, who came back into top gear when he scored a good knock of 125 against India at the SSC ground. This was his first Test century since he scored 168 against Bangladesh at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium, in 2005.
Thereafter, he followed his good form in Tests with back-to-back centuries in the same Test series against Bangladesh (162 and 143) and then followed it up with a knock of 145 against Pakistan.
Dilshan also did well as the opening batsman in the ODI segment.
Dilshan also captained the Sri Lanka T20 side against India which his side lost narrowly. He was moved to category two from category four.
There were no cricketers perched in category two last year.
The Lankan cricketers have also successfully negotiated a 15% hike in their annual contracts.
Once again featured in category one are five stalwarts – skipper Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya along with Chaminda Vaas.
The categories 1 and 2 are offered an annual pay of US$ 115,000 and 69,000 respectively per cricketer.
In category three where a cricketer is paid US$ 51,750, only medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekera, who climbed up to the number one slot in the ODI bowling ranking, is included.
Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis has made his appearance in the recognised list for the first time and he is included in category four with a annual payment of US$ 40,250
The others in category 4 are -- Prasanna Jayawardena, Farveez Maharoof, Chamara Kapugedera, Lasith Malinga and Malinda Warnapura.
Warnapura also comes into the recognised lot for the first time.
The player who has slipped out of grace is the out-of-form opening batsman, Upul Tharanga. Tharanga who could not make good after a string of chances may join the rest of the lot that may have names like Dilhara Fernando, Chamara Silva and Michael Van Dort. Some of the senior ‘A’ team players are also tipped to make it into this category. According to a spokesman of the Players Association, the contracts are yet to be signed, but no major changes would be done to what has been agreed upon so far.
World Cup
moved out of Pakistan
Meanwhile, at yesterday’s ICC director’s meeting in Dubai it was decided that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 matches and tournament secretariat to be moved out of Pakistan because of uncertainty over security situation.
In an official communiqué, ICC President David Morgan said, “It is a regrettable decision but our number one priority is to create certainty and allow us to press on with the work necessary to deliver a safe, secure and successful event”
The ICC Board resolved that, given the current uncertainty surrounding the security situation within Pakistan, the country should not host matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup (ICC CWC) 2011.
This means the event will now be hosted in three countries - Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka. The tournament secretariat will move from Pakistan to a location to be determined by the tournament’s Central Organising Committee.
Lahore incident
The ICC Directors Board received a report on the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team and match officials that took place in Lahore on March 3, the scheduled third day of the second Test between Pakistan and the visiting side.
It is also heard from Emirates Elite Panel ICC match referee Chris Broad, who was on duty for the match, as well as Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene via telephone hook-up from South Africa. Pakistan captain Younus Khan was unable to attend.
Following discussions, the Board asked Lord Condon, the Chairman of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, to lead a task team to include ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat and ICC directors Jack Clarke and Shashank Manohar which would conduct a comprehensive review of security arrangements for all international cricket. |
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