• Last minute negotiations by SLC fails

Sri Lanka’s cricketers are due to leave for England tonight signing a voluntary declaration form after last minute negotiations yesterday by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials to get the players to sign the new performance-based annual contract for the tour contract had failed.

The discussions that took place at the Hotel Taj Samudra where the team is booked came to a head when the 28 players who have been offered annual contracts refused to even sign the tour contract and wear the jerseys with the sponsors’ logos on it during the tour.

The players were given an ultimatum by SLC till 3:00 p.m. to sign or face suspension, and were even asked to leave the team hotel, which was later withdrawn.

“They wanted certain clauses included in the tour contract as well as certain changes made in the declaration form to which we refused,” an SLC source said. 

“They were then given an ultimatum till 3:00 p.m.”

“The players finally agreed to sign the voluntary declaration form after it was promised to give them a separate letter to say that on their return from England, the evaluations will be submitted to them individually as to which was their main grouse over the newly drawn up contracts.”

Attorney-at-Law Nishan Premathiratne who represents the players said: “We have disclosed the clause for transparency, that at the point of arrival, the points should be disclosed to the players after returning (from UK), and the guarantee of that undertaking to be given in the declaration. And in the event that there is an issue, for a new model to be looked at purely on performance and fitness.” – (ST) 

Test sensation Jayawickrama included in white-ball squad for England