Sri Lankan cricket stars secure a significant salary boost ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, with 41 players set to receive revised contracts categorized into A1, A2, B2, C1, C2, and the ‘A’ Team. In an official announcement released by Sri Lanka Cricket on May 10th, it was revealed that the remuneration for all tiers of Sri Lanka’s international players has been elevated immediately.
This strategic move aims to bolster the nation’s cricketing capabilities in preparation for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024, slated for June. A substantial increase in pay, particularly for red-ball cricket, has been implemented based solely on performance, with the highest hike reaching 100%.
Notably, Sri Lanka currently holds the seventh position in the ICC Men’s Test rankings among 12 teams and stands fourth in the nine-nation World Test Championship cycle for 2023-25.
Sri Lanka Cricket Implements New Payment Structures for Test Matches Based on Performance
The Sri Lanka Cricket board, as quoted by News 18, elucidated, “There will be different payment structures for a Test match ‘won,’ ‘drawn,’ or ‘lost’.” Test match fees are set to rise from the initial $7500 (INR 6.27 lakh) to a maximum of $15,000 (INR 12.53 lakh) for emerging victorious. In the case of other outcomes, fees of $12,500 (INR 10.44 lakh, a 66.67% increase) and $10,000 (INR 8.35 lakh, a 33.33% hike) for a draw and a loss, respectively, are allocated.
Ashley de Silva, the CEO of SLC, emphasized that the decision to double the pay for players involved in Test cricket underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment to upholding the esteemed tradition of the longest format of the game. Turning to white-ball formats, the original sum of $3000 has been upped to $4000 (a 33.33% increase). Additionally, SLC pledged to recognize players achieving top rankings in the ICC Player Rankings across all formats.
As well as those ranking between 10th and second place, with lump sum payments. “In accordance, a player will receive a one-time financial reward if they attain the title of ‘Best Batsman,’ ‘Best Bowler,’ or ‘Best All-Rounder’ based on ICC rankings, encompassing all formats,” declared the SLC. “Meanwhile, players ranking between 10th and 2nd place in the ICC rankings in the aforementioned categories will also be acknowledged with a one-time payment,” the governing body noted.
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