18 players sign contracts till end of 2021

By Amindha de Alwis

18 Sri Lanka players have signed Men’s National Player Contracts with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for a five-month period ending December 31, 2021. 

According to a media release by SLC, the players signed the contracts without any deviation from the contracts offered previously, which was formulated by SLC along with the Technical Advisory Committee. 

The new performance-based contracts, formulated based on were initially offered to 24 players back in May. 

Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis are currently serving a one-year ban imposed by SLC while Isuru Udana recently announced his retirement from International Cricket. 

Former skipper Angelo Mathews, meanwhile, was not considered as he has made himself unavailable for selection. 

The curious absentee is fast-bowler Kasun Rajitha who was offered a contract in May but does not appear on the new list of 18 players who have signed contracts.

“The selectors have said they need to reconsider about him (Rajitha) and they will revert back to us,” CEO of SLC Ashley De Silva told the DailyMirror on Rajitha’s omission. 

Furthermore, De Silva said that three further players recommended by the selectors may be added to the list of nationally contracted players given that the pool of players had dropped by six members. 

“There are three players recommended by the selectors who would be considered and are eligible for a National contract,” he said. 

The player contracts came into effect from August 1, 2021. 

Players awarded 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