The local media reported that the Sri Lankan players accepted the England tour this month despite a contract dispute with their cricket board remains unresolved. Including the test captain Dimurth Karunaratane and ODI skipper Kusal Perera, the players had refused to sign new contracts which were offering lower base salaries and more performance-based incentives. The Sri Lankan media said that some of the players felt contracts were non-transparent.
Nishan Premathiratne informed ESPNcricinfo that the players will play the England tour without signing any contract. The players have signed a voluntary declaration, but nothing is benefiting from player remuneration. The players have always been committed to playing for their country. The Sri Lanka cricket did not reply immediately to the request for comment.
The Sri Lankan players will play three One-day Internationals and three Twenty-20 internationals in England. Their tour will begin on June 23. According to ESPNcricinfo, the performance and fitness are the two crucial criteria that form 70% of a player’s overall mark as per their new proposed scheme and 10% each for leadership, professionalism and future potential. 38 Sri Lankan players had signed a statement refusing to sign the tour contracts and it had an increase from 24 more players who had previously made their decision regarding the new scheme.
