SLC stands firm on ‘Big Three’ opposition

SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala addresses the media as SLC Assistant Secretary Ravin Wickramaratne looks on

By Madushka Balasuriya

President of Sri Lanka Cricket Thilanga Sumathipala was unequivocal in his assertion that SLC would continue to oppose the ICC’s ‘Big Three’ revenue sharing system, which sees a majority of revenue shared between India, England and Australia.

“I don’t think Sri Lanka is going to support Big Three. We’re taking each case separately. As far as India is concerned, we have not been satisfied. We have always been against it, and it shouldn’t have been the case in the first place,” said Sumathipala on Monday evening, before flying out to attend the ICC meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.

Earlier this year the ICC, under Chairman Shashank Manohar, removed the ‘Big Three’ from permanent positions on the executive committee, while also ensuring the installation of an independent ICC chairman free of ties to a member board. Sumathipala was responding to a report in the Times of India which had stated that India would be looking for the support of Sri Lanka, along with Zimbabwe, West Indies and Bangladesh in opposing Manohar’s mooted plan to scrap the ‘Big Three’ formula altogether.

“Cricket has to be equal and equity has to be distributed equally between all member nations of the ICC. The way it is at present, that is not cricket,” Sumathipala added.

The ‘Big Three’ formula was introduced by the former BCCI President N. Srinivasan, and was seen as way of increasing the percentage of ICC revenue received by India, Australia and England in return for the large portion of global revenue brought in by the three nations.

Sumathipala also alluded to the uncertainty surrounding the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) at the moment. The BCCI have been at loggerheads with the Indian Supreme Court over the implementation of recommendations by the Lodha Committee. The committee had called for a complete overhaul of Indian cricket. However, delays in implementing the reforms led to the eventual intervention of the Supreme Court. Sumathipala expressed concern over the BCCI’s stability in light of the situation, and hoped for a swift resolution.

“We are very concerned with regard to the stability and consistency of the BCCI. We would like to see consistency of the BCCI, without any interference whatsoever, because of the effort they have put in throughout the years to bring the BCCI to what it is today. The BCCI is such an important world body. If the BCCI for any reason has instability, that would be instability for the SLC and cricket generally.”

Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe

SLC set to give contracts to emerging, junior players

ESPNcricinfo: Sri Lanka Cricket is set to introduce annual contracts for close to 70 cricketers, across the youth, emerging and senior categories, in a bid to encourage them to press for places in the Sri Lanka team. The new contract system does not include the current national players already contracted with the board.

SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala said that the new contract system will cover the period between November 1, 2016, and April 30, 2017, after which the cricketers could play in any part of the world. Under this system, the cricketers will be paid between Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 100,000 per month ($ 170 - $ 680).