Wanindu, Chameera earn SLC top contracts
Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera are among the four male cricketers to receive Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) top category (A1) contracts for the ensuing year. SLC has finalised a list of 20 players in the national contracts and 10 in the domestic player contracts.However, with seamer Suranga Lakmal retiring from international cricket at the end of the second and final match against India currently being played in Bengaluru, the national cricket contract list will come down to 19.
The national players have been categorised into six groups–A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2–but no player was able to earn an A2 contract which has a base price of US$80,000.
Hasaranga has been a revelation in limited-overs cricket during the last 12 months. This helped him earn a massive $1.43 mn IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore and SLC has rightly put him in the top category which has an annual retainer of US$ 100,000. Fast bowler Chameera has had similar success last year and jumps to the top category from the C1 category that offered a retainer of US$ 50,000. He is the second-biggest gainer, getting a 100 per cent increment under the new contract.
While Dhananjaya de Silva has retained his place in the A1 category, SLC has included Sri Lanka Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne in the A1 category. Karunaratne was only given a category A3 contract last year, valued at US$ 70,000, when SLC devised a performance-based contract system, igniting a huge player revolt.
Angelo Mathews and Kusal Janith Perera who were in category A2 with a retainer of US$ 80,000 last year, have failed to consolidate their positions this year as they have been demoted to B1 with a base price of US$ 65,000. There are no category A2 and A3 cricketers in the new list with seven players listed to get category B1 contracts.
Among those getting B1 contracts are, Pathum Nissanka, a player on a purple patch; Lahiru Thirimanne, the Test specialist; Dasun Shanaka, the limited-over captain; and Dinesh Chandimal, a former captain struggling to cement his place.
Spinner Lasith Embildeniya has received a slight pay cut and is on a retainer of US$ 55,000 compared to US$ 60,000 last year. Ramesh Mendis has been promoted to B2 category along with batsman Charith Asalanka. Asalanka’s retainer has increased by 30,000 or 120 per cent. Vishwa Fernando, Avishka Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne are in C1 category with a base price of US$ 45,000.
Wicket-keeper batter Niroshan Dickwella has had a massive US$ 65,000 cut from his base fee which was at US$ 100,000 during the last round of contracts. He was one of the two players, along with Dhananjaya de Silva, to get a top category contract last year. However, a ban on disciplinary grounds along with Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka last year saw them being demoted to the lowest category. The trio receives a base price of US$ 35,000.
Meanwhile, Lahiru Kumara, an all-format bowler, has missed out on a national contract this year but is among the ten players to receive domestic contacts.
Proposed contracts scheme:
- A1 category ($100,000 base salary)
Dimuth Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushmantha Chameera
- A2 category ($80,000)
No players
- B1 ($65,000)
Angelo Mathews, Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dasun Shanaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera.
- B2 ($55,000)
Lasith Embuldeniya, Ramesh Mendis, Charith Asalanka
- C1 ($45,000)
Vishwa Fernando, Avishka Fernando
- C2 ($35,000)
Chamika Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilake, Kusal Mendis
- Domestic players
Praveen Jayawickrema (US$20,000), Oshada Fernando (US$15,000), Bhanuka Rajapakse (US$25,000), Lakshan Sandakan (US$30,000), Maheesh Theekshana(US$30,000), Nuwan Pradeep(US$20,000), Binura Fernando(US$15,000),
Lahiru Kumara(US$30,000), Minod Banuka(US$15,000), Kamindu Mendis (US$15,000),