Sri Lanka announces a list of 18 players for national contracts until the end of 2021

All-rounder Angelo Mathews, along with three suspended players-Danushka Gunatilaka, Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis-were not named on the Sri Lanka Cricket Board’s (SLC) list of 18 players who were offered national contracts on Friday.

The contracts will be for a duration of five months, lasting till 31 December 2021. On the contracts, a statement by the board read: “The players signed the contracts without any deviation from the contracts offered previously, which was formulated by Sri Lanka Cricket along with the Technical Advisory Committee.

“The players were chosen under four categories and were nominated by the Selection Panel, based on a set of criteria such as Performance, Fitness, Leadership/Seniority, Professionalism/Code of Conduct, and Future/Adaptability. The criteria and the allocation of points to individual players were shared among the players before they signed the contracts.”

SLC clarified that Mathews was not on the contracted players’ list because he is “currently unavailable for selection”.

“Angelo Mathews, who was among the players offered a contract was not considered, as he is currently unavailable for selection, whilst Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis are currently serving a ban. Isuru Udana has retired from international cricket,” SLC added.

Mendis, wicketkeeper Dickwella and Gunathilaka were sent home from England for breaching bio-bubble protocols in Durham

Players given national contracts: Dhananjaya De Silva, Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Suranga Lakmal, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Embuldeniya, Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Lakshan Sandakan, Vishwa Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Ramesh Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Ashen Bandara and Akila Dananjaya.