SLC revises national player contracts

• Aims to usher results-driven era

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has reportedly revised national player contracts with fresh bonuses on offer and fines imposed for series losses across all formats, in a bid to usher in a new results-driven era under the stewardship of Men’s head coach South African Gary Kirsten.

The new performance-based payment structure has been incorporated to the revised national player contracts, following the advent of the ex-Proteas opener who officially assumed his new post on a two-year contract effective 15 April.

The new system formulated by SLC proposes bonuses for series victories against the top four ranked teams in Tests.

The bonus at home is 50 per cent of the overseas bonus in One-Day International’s, while the same bonus structure will be applicable irrespective of venue for Twenty20 Internationals.

As per the newly drafted national player contracts in ODIs, full bonuses will be offered for overseas wins, while at the same time it has been scaled-down for home wins.

The sport’s local ruling body has imposed penalties for series defeats with 10 percent deduction from match fees across all three formats, with underperforming players coming under the microscope like never before.

The nationally-contracted players will at the same time have more ways to earn through contract retainers, tour fees, allowances, ranking bonuses and more.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has insisted that these revised contracts aim to reward excellence, encourage winning performances and build a strong and competent Sri Lanka on the world stage.

However, it has come at the probable tail-end of the Shammi Silva-led SLC administration, which according to local media reports is currently in some turmoil, after being reportedly requested by the Head of State to make way for an interim body.

The impending resignation of the powerful SLC chair who has been untouchable across seven long years at his fiefdom like Maitland Place head office, comes in the wake of several strict and unpopular reforms introduced by the SLC Ex-Co instigated by the former. 

These include tighter fitness standards for contracted players, mandatory disciplinary considerations in future contracts, and performance-based payment structures.

Despite the ongoing upheaval at the Maitland Place-based governing body, observers note that if these reforms are retained and implemented effectively, they could contribute positively to the long-term development of cricket in this country.

Sri Lanka is currently placed sixth in both ICC Test and ODI Rankings, while languishing in eighth in T20I Rankings.

The ICC Test Rankings are headed by Australia followed by world Test champions South Africa and England, with India being in pole position in One-Day Internationals followed by Australia and New Zealand, respectively.

World champions India are the top-ranked team in T20Is followed by England and Australia, respectively.

Source - The Morning