Colombo, August 10
Sri Lankan cricketers have established a professional players’ association aimed at giving them a stronger collective voice in matters affecting their careers and the future of the sport, with national white-ball captain Kusal Mendis appointed its inaugural president.
The formation of the Sri Lankan Professional Cricketers’ Association comes at a significant time for the country’s cricket administration, with Sri Lanka Cricket undergoing a reform process overseen by a government-appointed committee.
The new body has received the backing of the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), which described its establishment as an important development for strengthening player representation and promoting professionalism in Sri Lankan cricket.
WCA Chief Executive Tom Moffat welcomed the initiative, saying effective player representation was an essential part of a healthy cricketing structure.
“A strong game and strong player representation go hand in hand,” Moffat said in a statement on Monday.
He said cricket benefited when players had a meaningful role in discussions about the sport’s future and added that Sri Lankan cricketers, by organising themselves collectively, had demonstrated their commitment to the game’s long-term health, integrity and professional development.
Sri Lanka women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu has also backed the association, giving the organisation representation and support across the men’s and women’s national teams.
The association is expected to play an important role in representing players during discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket on contractual and professional matters. One of the key areas is likely to be players seeking permission from the cricket board to participate in overseas franchise competitions, an increasingly important source of opportunities and income for professional cricketers.
The development also brings Sri Lanka further into line with the international players’ representation structure.
Players from 17 of the world’s top 19 cricket-playing countries are now affiliated with the WCA through their respective associations. India and Pakistan remain the two major cricketing nations whose players are not affiliated with the global organisation.
