Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to grant 65 annual contracts to players in the Youth, Emerging and Senior categories.
All these players will be signing their annual contracts at the end of this month and is effective from 1st of November, 2016 till 30th of April, 2017.
In the senior category, the main criterion for selection is the age factor. All 30+ past or present national players or 30+ domestic players who have scored 600 runs or taken 38 wickets in the 2015/16 Premier League Tournament are eligible to be included in this category. These 17 players will have a monthly income ranging from Rs 75,000 to Rs. 100,000.
Nuwan Kulasekara was in the National contract – category 1 in 2014/15 but a recent dip in form has resulted in him being demoted to this special senior category while Ajantha Mendis who last played in 2015 was in the National contract – category 2 but now has been named alongside these 17 players.
According to Sri Lanka Cricket President, Thilanga Sumathipala, this category provides motivation for most of the experienced campaigners to be involved in the domestic circuit for yet another season.
“We have found out that some of the 30+ players are still making an effort to play for the country and they truly deserve to be national contracted.” Sumathipala said at a press briefing held on Monday evening.
The most exciting future prospects for Sri Lanka Cricket who are aged 19 to 23 have been included in the Youth category. These 24 players will receive a monthly remuneration ranging from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000. The selection criteria are national representation, Sri Lanka A, Sri Lanka Development, Sri Lanka U19 representation and domestic performances.
The Emerging category also known as category B will have 24 players who are between 24 years to 29 years of age. Most of these players have played for Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka A or Sri Lanka Development in the recent past while some of them have been picked due to their domestic performances. They will be paid from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 75,000 monthly,
The national contracts list has not yet been announced by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as they are awaiting confirmation from the national selectors. Reportedly, 28 players are to be centrally contracted (top category) by Sri Lanka Cricket and will sign the contracts before the tour to Zimbabwe later this month.
Youth
Charith Asalanka, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Wanindu Hasaranga, Vishad Randika, Manoj Sarathchandra, Kavindu Kulasekara, Ramesh Mendis, Lasith Embuldeniya, Priyamal Perera, Sahan Nanayakkara, Lahiru Milantha, Minod Bhanuka, Pabasara Waduge, Lasith Abeyrathne, Sandun Weerakkody, Angelo Jayasinghe, Anuk Fernando, Shehan Madushanka, Hashan Dumindu, Binura Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Kasun Rajitha, Tharindu Kaushal.
Emerging
Maduka Liyanapathirana, Sanjaya Chathuranga, Lahiru Madushanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Umesh Karunarathne, Gamindu Kanishka, Mohommad Dilshad, Kasun Madushanka, Rumesh Buddhika, Vimukthi Perera, Dilshan Munaweera, Madawa Warnapura, Malinda Pushpakumara, Sachithra Serasinghe, Prabath Jayasuriya, Shehan Jayasuriya, Vishwa Fernando, Ramith Rambukwella, Udara Jayasundara, Chathuranga De Silva, Ashan Priyanjan, Chaminda Bandara, Lahiru Gamage, Isuru Udana.
Senior
Mahela Udawatta, Jeewan Mendis, Farveez Maharoof, Suraj Randiv, Jehan Mubarak, Nisal Randika, Chamara Silva, Tharanga Paranavithana, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Hasantha Fernando, Gayan Sirisoma, Dilhara Fernando, TN Sampath, Charitha Buddhika, Asela Gunarathne, Nadeera Nawala.
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