Eighteen (18) Sri Lanka cricketers have signed the National Player Contracts, which comes into effect from 01st of August 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced today.

Issuing a statement, the SLC said the new contract will be for a period of 05-months and will end on the 31st of December 2021.

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, the statement said. 

The SLC further said, in the meantime, former skipper 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.

Sri Lanka Cricket added that Isuru Udana has retired from International Cricket.

Following are the cricketers who were 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
• Akila Dananjaya