Cricket Blog: March 2014

Mahela Jayawardena T20 Retire message

Hi Everyone,

Confirming my decision to retire from T20Is after this World Cup. As with Sanga, this was always on the cards as there's no likelihood of my playing in the 2016 T20 WC either. Preparation for the next WC begins immediately after the team is done with the current tournament and should only revolve around players who will be available in 2016. It has been an amazing ride and I hope that we go all the way this time! Thanks to you all for your great support.

Cheers, Mahela

Kumar Sangakkara T20 Retire message

Hi Guys - Thanks for the messages of support. It is true that I'll be retiring from International T20s after this tournament. It is the right time as it will allow the selectors to mould a team for the next T20 World Cup. Hope to leave with a win!

- Cheers, Sanga

Know well about Sri Lanka at the World T20

Things to know about the Sri Lanka team to play at the World Twenty20 tournament in Bangladesh:
THIRD TIME A CHARM Sri Lanka has twice reached the World T20 final but so far failed to win the title.

Kumara Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardane have announced he will retire from Twenty20 internationals following the World T20 in Bangladesh

THE BIG THREE Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan all are likely to featureheavily in what will almost certainly be their last World T20 events. The trio boasts a wealth of international experience and features in one of the strongest batting lineups in the tournament.They are among the top four run-scorers in the World T20s, each having played 25 matches.Jayawardene has scored 858 runs in the four previous tournaments 194 runs ahead of West Indian power-hitter Chris Gayle (664) and well clear of Dilshan (632) and Sangakkara (590).
YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE Dinesh Chandimal was last year selected as Sri Lanka's youngest T20 captain at the age of 23. Although Chandimal averages just 13.36 in 23 international Twenty20s.
MALINGA AND MENDIS Lasith Malinga's toe-crushing yorkers and the unorthodox spin of Ajantha Mendis are the most powerful bowling weapons in Sri Lanka's armory.
PHENOMINAL FIELDING Sri Lanka's agility in the field can be compared with the benchmarks set by test powers South Africa and Australia, Sri Lanka makes opposition batsmen work hard to score boundaries or convert singles into twos.

Sri Lanka demanded a 20 per cent share of the ICC image rights income

Colombo: Mar 12, 2014

The ongoing row between the national players and the Sri Lanka Cricket board remained unresolved after a round of talks held on Wednesday. The SLC top brass met with the national squad players on Wednesday to discuss the issue and it was decided to refer the case to the SLC executive committee meeting to be held on Thursday.

The players had refused to sign the contracts forwarded to them by e-mail to Bangladesh where the team was playing in the Asia Cup.

The players have demanded a 20 per cent share of the ICC image rights income. SLC has refused to meet the demand, claiming that 58 per cent of the SLC’s income is spent on player payments.

-cricketcountry.com

update 2014March16

Sri Lankan cricketers will leave for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in Bangladesh tomorrow after having refused to sign new contracts with the SLC in continuation of their ongoing pay row.

SLC sources said the players' tough stand, even momentarily, threatened the island's chances in the World T20 as authorities contemplated sending a second string side for the tournament.

Sri Lanka Cricket CEO, Ashley de Silva said players have refused to enter contracts based on a new formula announced this week. The players have been demanding a 20 per cent share from the monies derived from ICC to the SLC.

The SLC formula stipulated a new participating fee for players from a kitty ranging between USD 500,000 to 750,000 and performance related bonuses.

Players have rejected this formula claiming that cumulative bonuses under this would be a mere six per cent.

They want a reasonable percentage from the ICC monies to form an integral part of their annual contracts.

They are willing to come down on the 20 per cent demand.

Player sources say they had decided to play for the country in the T20 without formal contracts in view of the importance of the event pending negotiations.

Thirimanne Speaks becoming Man of the series

Player of the Series ‪#‎AsiaCup‬: 'Actually, I just wanted to play the anchor role. I knew 260 was gettable. I am very happy about my performance. The ball was skidding on to the bat nicely, I just used the pace. This is my first Man of the Series award. I am proud of it.'

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Live Cricket Score, Asia Cup 2014 Match 7: Sangakkara scores half-century

(Afghanistan take on Sri Lanka in the seventh match of the Asia Cup 2014 at Mirpur. Afghanistan lost their first match, but won the second. Sri Lanka have beaten Pakistan and India in their two matches so far. Catch live cricket scores of the match in our live blog below.)

Shenwari to bowl. Sangakkara hits one towards deep mid-wicket for a single and gets to his half-century. That is his 85th half-century in ODIs. He has been in excellent form in the last few weeks