Cricketers given until June 3 to sign new contracts

Cricketers offered central contracts have been given a deadline of June 3 by which they are expected to sign, according to Aravinda de Silva, the Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) Technical Advisory Committee.

With the national team currently in Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series, the players have been given an additional period of time to go through the terms of the new performance-driven contracts upon their return to the island.

"The players who have gone on the tour of Bangladesh have signed a tour-by-tour contract. We have given them until June 3, to read and sign the contracts," de Silva said.

CEO of Sri Lanka Ashley De Silva added that if any player were to refuse the contract offered, they would still have the option of representing the country under a tour-by-tour agreement.

"All players nominated by the panel have been given a deadline to sign the agreement. So far they have not notified us of anything, but in the event that they do not sign it, that player will have to go by a tour-by-tour basis contract for future tours," he said.

Under the new player contract scheme, 24 cricketers are to be awarded National Player Contracts while upto six further players would be eligible to receive Domestic Development Contracts.