|| CF DESK ||

Cricketers in Sri Lanka have recently threatened to retire early due to the introduction of a new points-based grading system that will decide their annual salaries. Since the new scheme would have a significant effect on their salaries, the players have requested more clarity over the criteria used to grade players.

According to the new system, players will now be  categorized into four different groups based on points which gives priority to levels of fitness, discipline, performance in international and domestic cricket during the last two years, leadership and overall value to the team, reported by The Sunday Times.

"Each individual player very correctly believes they are entitled to a disclosure on the points allotted which categorised their ranking," Attorney-at-Law Nishan Sydney Premathiratne, the player representative in the SLC contract negotiations, told the Sunday Times.

"Transparency would also create unity and harmony. All players are in unison seeking this information. Transparency is paramount so that the players also know how they were assessed and what weaknesses they need to address," Mr Premathiratne was quoted as saying in the report.

SLC, however, said that the information will remain confidential.

"We are no longer going to offer a contract on seniority or any other personal preferences but only after evaluating the overall performance of a player based on the new criteria," an SLC official said to The Sunday Times on the condition of anonymity.

"We were to give them the contracts last week but we could not do it because of the lockdown. So, we will give the contracts next week and whoever wants to sign can do so. The others can sign tour contracts. We have no issue with that. But we will not compromise the system in place and are not willing to divulge these vital pieces of information."