Sri Lanka cricket stars end pay dispute and are available for Galle Test
Last Updated: March 4, 2013 12:02pm
Mahela Jayawardene: Expected to join squad in signing new deal
A pay dispute between Sri Lanka Cricket chiefs and its 23 centrally-contracted players has been resolved.
The players signed new contracts on Monday and made themselves available for the two-Test series against Bangladesh which starts on Friday.
The SLC and Sri Lankan sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had threatened to drop the 23 senior players if did not sign the new contracts by Monday, and field a reserve team against the touring Bangladesh side in Galle.
But SLC chief executive officer Ajith Jayasekera confirmed: "Twenty two out of 23 players have signed the contracts which makes them available for the selection for Bangladesh Test series.
Former captain Mahela Jayawardene, who is abroad, was the only player who did not sign his contract but is expected to do so on his return.
The contracts expired at the end of February but the players refused to sign a new contract by Saturday's deadline. The SLC extended the deadline to Monday.
SLC officials and Aluthgamage have said the players were demanding 75 per cent of the board's total earnings, whilst the board was only prepared to give them a 67 per cent cut.
It has not been disclosed how much the players will receive.
Galle hosts the first Test against Bangladesh from Friday while the second match will take place in the capital Colombo from March 16.
