Cricket: SLC increases player fees for domestic tournaments

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to increase the player fees for the upcoming domestic Premier and Zonal tournaments according to a press release issued on Wednesday (14).   “SLC wishes to announce that the match fees payable for the upcoming local Premier and Zonal Tournaments have been increased by very substantial amounts. With the recent revisions Sri Lanka first class cricketers have the opportunity to earn approximately Rs.1 million per annum, if they play all the matches in a given season,: the statement issued by SLC said.   “It has been the aim of SLC over the years to professionalise cricket and to make it a livelihood. This is certainly a step in the right direction and will persuade our young and aspiring cricketers to remain in Sri Lanka and play competitive cricket rather than move to Australia and/or England on a regular basis, to play cricket and boost their income,” it further added.   “I am extremely happy to oversee a committee which has implemented this long felt need. It will no doubt lay the seed for cricket as a livelihood in Sri Lanka,” SLC Interim Committee Chairman Sidath Wettimuny stated.   Under the revised match fee structure a total number of 154 cricketers who participate in all three formats for their respective clubs in the Premier Tournament have the opportunity to earn Rs. 250,000 for the season.   A player who participates in all three formats of the Premier Club and Zonal Tournaments will now have the opportunity to earn Rs. 725,000 for the season.