Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced huge salary cuts in the salary of Sri Lanka Cricketers. The board has come up with new central contracts for the players which are 35% less compared to last season. The board raised the Sri Lanka cricket players salaries the previous year after a good performance but the Covid-19 crisis has hit Sri Lanka cricket badly. A total of 30 players have been included in the new central contracts, which are divided into four categories – A, B, C and D for the year 2024/2022.
The Srilankan cricket team has produced exceptional talented Cricket players to the world. However, the Success story also lies in the Board of Cricket Council of Sri Lanka (BCCSL) who pays handsomely to the dedicated deserving performers for their country.
The players in Category A will now earn $100,000 instead of $130,000 and every category will have will now have 3 sub-categories which is set to reduce more salary. The players in Category A, Tier 1 to get $100K, Tier 2 to get $80K and Tier 3 to pocket $60K as yearly salary.
Apart from Sri Lanka, the Windies board has also axed the West Indies cricketers salaries along with Australia and England. Despite a pay cut in the Sri Lanka cricket players salaries, the cricketers will earn the salary based on their performance.
Sri Lanka Cricket Players Salaries
Here is the previous year list of Sri Lanka contracted players with their match fees and contracts. There is no official announcement regarding the player’s categorisation and players are waiting to sign the agreement with the board for the 2024/22 season.
| PLAYERS | TEST (FEE) | ODI (FEE) | T20 (FEE) | BASE SALARY | CONTRACT |
| Dimuth Karunaratne (C) | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $100,000 | A |
| Angelo Mathews | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $80,000 | A |
| Dinesh Chandimal | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $80,000 | A |
| Rangana Herath | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $80,000 | A |
| Suranga Lakmal | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $60,000 | A |
| Upul Tharanga | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $65,000 | B |
| Dilruwan Perera | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $65,000 | B |
| Kusal Mendis | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $35,000 | C |
| Niroshan Dickwella | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $35,000 | C |
| Dananjaya De Silva | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $35,000 | C |
| Kusal Janith | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $35,000 | C |
| Thisara Perera | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $35,000 | C |
| Akila Dananjaya | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $35,000 | D |
| Dushmantha Chameera | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $35,000 | D |
| Asela Gunaratne | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $35,000 | D |
| Danushka Gunatilleka | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $35,000 | D |
| Nuwan Pradeep | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $35,000 | D |
| Sadeera Samarawickrema | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $25,000 | D |
| Roshen Silva | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $25,000 | D |
| Lahiru Thirimanne | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $25,000 | D |
| Vishwa Fernando | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $25,000 | D |
| Lakshan Sandakan | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $25,000 | D |
| Isuru Udana | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $25,000 | D |
| Dilshan Munaweera | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $25,000 | D |
| Lahiru Gamage | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $25,000 | D |
| Jeffery Vandersay | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $25,000 | D |
| Kaushal Silva | $7,500 | $5,500 | $3,500 | $25,000 | D |
There are five categorizations in the central contract pay scale which provides a maximum annual payout.
Category A: Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Dimuth Karunaratne.
Category B: Upul Tharanga, Dilruwan Perera.
Category C: Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dananjaya De Silva, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera.
Category D: Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Asela Gunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka, Nuwan Pradeep.
Premier category: Sadeera Samarawickrama, Roshen Silva, Lahiru Thirimane, Lahiru Gamage, Vishwa Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Jeffery Vandersay, Dasun Shanaka, Kaushal Silva, Shehan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Malintha Pushpakumara, Amila Aponso, Wanidu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Dilshan Munaweera.
The new system focuses more on performances related bonuses and although the deal is yet to be signed by Sri Lanka cricketers, local reports suggest both parties SLC and players association has already verbally agreed on the deal.
According to new deal 33% of total board’s income will be distributed in players salaries.
- If Sri Lanka wins the Test Match every Individual player to get Double Match Fee.
- If an Individual scores a Century or takes a 10 wicket haul in the Test Match, the player will be rewarded with $5,000 by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board as performance bonus
- Individual taking a 5 wicket haul or scores a Century in ODI gets rewarded with $5,000
- Taking 5 wickets haul also scoring a Half Century in the t20 format will be rewarded as $2,500 for the performed
Known as the Underdogs of the Cricket World Sri Lanka bounced in the winning ways since 1990’s winning the 1996 Cricket World Cup. While they are the most consistent team in past decade to reach the 2007 and 2011 Final as a Runner-up. Sri Lankan Cricket Team is also a Runner-up in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in 2009 and 2012. The Lankan Lions have also won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2002.
The performance-based salary model which was installed in 2017 has now removed by the SLC which refelect in the Sri Lanka cricket players salaries as wages of players has increased.