Cricket: 18 players sign National Contracts

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that 18 players have signed the 'National Player Contracts', which will be for a duration of five months, ending with the year 2021.

"SLC wishes to announce that 18 players signed the National Player Contracts, which came into effect from August 1. The new contract will be for a five-month period and will end on December 31, 2021," issuing a statement, SLC said.

The players have signed the contracts without any deviation from the contracts offered previously, which was formulated by SLC along with its Technical Advisory Committee, according to official information.

"The players were chosen under four categories and were nominated by the Selection Panel, based on a set of criteria such as Performance, Fitness, Leadership/Seniority, Professionalism/Code of Conduct, and Future/Adaptability," the press release added.

The criteria and the allocation of points to individual players were shared among the players before they signed the contracts.

However, Angelo Mathews, who was among the players offered a contract earlier, was not considered as he is currently unavailable for selection, while Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis are currently serving a ban.

Isuru Udana has retired from international cricket.

Players who were given National Contracts: Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Embuldeniya, Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Ashen Bandara, Akila Dananjaya