Sri Lanka’s Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, vice-captain Dhananjaya De Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera have received Sri Lanka Cricket’s top category (A1) contracts for the 2022-2023 season, Sunday Times reports.
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Sri Lanka Cricket has offered 19 annual contracts and 10 contracts for domestic players. The 2022-2023 SLC annual contracts consist of six categories, namely A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. But interestingly, no national player has been able to secure a A2 contract which offers a base pay of US$80,000.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, two of Sri Lanka’s most successful white-ball players during the last 12 months have received top category contracts for the first time, with an annual retainer of US$ 100,000.
Sri Lanka’s Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, who was only offered an A3 contract worth US$70,000 last year, has been promoted to the A1 category while Dhananjaya De Silva retained his place in the same bracket.
Angelo Mathews and Kusal Janith Perera, who earned A2 contracts (US$80,000) last year, have been moved to the B1 category with a base pay of US$ 65,000.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka ODI & T20I skipper Dasun Shananka, Pathum Nissanka and Test specialist Lahiru Thirimanne have retained their places in the B1 category. Former Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal, who earned a C2 contract last year, has been promoted to B1 category.
Sri Lanka’s premier Test spinner Lasith Embildeniya has retained his place in the B2 category while off-spinning all-rounder Ramesh Mendis has been promoted to the B2 category from the D1 category. Sri Lanka’s latest batting sensation Charith Asalanka has made a remarkable rise in contracts list as his retainer has been increased by US$ 30,000 putting him in the B2 category.
Wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella has suffered a massive pay cut according to the new contracts list. He was getting a top category contract (A1) with base price US$ 100,000 last year, Kusal Mendis who earned A3 category contract, has faced a demotion in the new contracts list dropping down to C2 category which has a base price of US$ 35,000.
Meanwhile, speedster Lahiru Kumara and spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Praveen Jayawickrama regulars in national team have missed out national contracts but have been named among the ten players to receive domestic contacts.
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Proposed contracts scheme:
- A1 category ($100,000 base salary)
Dimuth Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushmantha Chameera
- A2 category ($80,000)
No players
- B1 ($65,000)
Angelo Mathews, Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dasun Shanaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera.
- B2 ($55,000)
Lasith Embuldeniya, Ramesh Mendis, Charith Asalanka
- C1 ($45,000)
Vishwa Fernando, Avishka Fernando
- C2 ($35,000)
Chamika Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilake, Kusal Mendis
- Domestic players
Praveen Jayawickrema (US$20,000), Oshada Fernando (US$15,000), Bhanuka Rajapakse (US$25,000), Lakshan Sandakan (US$30,000), Maheesh Theekshana(US$30,000), Nuwan Pradeep(US$20,000), Binura Fernando(US$15,000), Lahiru Kumara(US$30,000), Minod Banuka(US$15,000), Kamindu Mendis (US$15,000)
