Eleven players receive full term contracts

SRI LANKA Cricket's interim committee has rewarded young and fiery fast bowler Lasith Malinga and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for their outstanding performances last year with full term one-year contracts.

These players join nine others whose contracts were renewed for another year from March 1, 2005 till February 28, 2006.

The contracts were finally signed on July 12, a day before the commencement of the Sri Lanka-West Indies Test series after much delay caused by the confusion of the change of Cricket Board administration and with regard to certain clauses effecting image rights and personal endorsements of the players.

The interim committee did not disclose figures of how much the players earn which has been a sensitive area nor the categories to which they have been classified. But it was revealed that a further 10 to 15 players would also be contracted on a different category shortly.

Malinga, who broke into the Test ranks at the age of 21 against Australia last year, has become Sri Lanka's strike bowler with his unusual square arm bowling action. In seven Tests he has taken 30 wickets at an average of 27.90.

Herath (27) filled the void created by champion bowler Muttiah Muralitharan's absence by capturing 17 wickets in four Tests, the highlight of which was a match bag of seven wickets to bowl Sri Lanka to a 201-run win over Pakistan at Faisalabad last year.

The contracted players are: Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Upul Chandana, Tilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga. - (S.T.)