Malinga, Thisara free to play IPL: Jayasuriya

19 April 2014 06:01 am Views - 10419

The two Sri Lanka players in the current IPL, Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera, would be free to continue playing in the IPL if they don’t make themselves available for the forthcoming tour of Ireland and England, Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya said.

The chief selector said the two senior players, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene along with Malinga, would anyway not be considered for the Irish leg of the tour.

With the contract dispute between Sri Lanka Cricket and the players yet to resolved, the selectors have asked players to come clear on their availability for the forthcoming tour of Ireland and England.

Chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya said the players had been asked to inform about their availability for the twin tours beginning May 6 and ending on June 28.

Sri Lanka will engage Ireland in two ODIs in Dublin on May 6 and 8 before starting the England tour with two T20 matches. There will be five ODIs and two Tests at Lord’s and Headingley.

SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said players can sign tour specific contracts. This is indicative of the unresolved state of the contract dispute.

Players demanded 20 per cent from SLC’s ICC revenue and the dispute threatened Sri Lanka’s chances in the world T20 which they ultimately won.