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Firdose Moonda
December 15, 2011
Sri Lanka will start their three-Test series in South Africa without their promised pay cheques but with the assurance of their problem being resolved within the next week. The players have not received contract or match fees since March and had been assured by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) that a partial payment would be made before the series began in Centurion today.
Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka's captain, confirmed that none of the players had been paid yet but said the team has its mind on cricket, not cash. "I have not followed up on that," he said in Centurion. "We are just keeping it to cricket here. At the moment we are just worried about cricket."
Dilshan did, however, say the players could receive some remuneration next week. "I think it might be sorted out next week. I think on Friday they are going to pay 50%."
Sri Lanka's sports minister, Mahindananda Aluthgamage said last week that players would be paid 65% of what was due to them, with the balance to be paid by January 15. SLC suffered from financial problems following the 2011 World Cup and had debts of $32.5 million after building two stadiums, in Hambantota and Pallekele, and renovating a ground in Colombo for the tournament. The SLC is due to receive payment from the ICC, which they will use to pay the players.
On the eve of Sri Lanka's arrival in South Africa, some of the hosts' cricketers came out in support of their colleagues. Graeme Smith called the lack of payment a situation that is "far from ideal," while AB de Villiers said it was a credit to the players that they continued representing their country without pay. When Dilshan and his team touched down, they thanked the South African players for their support.
"I am very happy to say that we did help and it's great to see Dilshan thanking us for that," de Villiers said. "I thought it was a good call from Cricket South Africa and the Cricketers' Association and we helped a friend a need."
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