SL cricketers receive outstading dues

Colombo: The Sri Lankan cricket board (SLC) has cleared the remaining dues owed to the country's national team since the 2011 World Cup. Following the ICC's decision to pay the Sri Lankan players 42.36 per cent of the outstanding dues in December – taken as part of the World Cup hosting fee - SLC has confirmed that it now owes nothing to the team.

"The players have been paid all their dues in full up to date. We extend our sincere thanks to the sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and the secretary, ministry of sports for assisting Sri Lanka Cricket to source these funds at this very difficult time in order to pay our players," a board release said.

Aluthgamage apparently signed a Rs 600m deal with the state-owned Bank of Ceylon and the money has been used to settle the players' account.

\"The players have been paid all their dues in full up to date,\" informed the Lankan cricket board.

SLC has been in a financial crisis ever since the construction of two international stadia in Hambantota and Pallekele for the World Cup last year. Besides, it also spent a huge chunk on the renovation of the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and it all led to the players getting unpaid as the board accumulated a debt of USD 32.5 million. Out of that, it owed USD 4.3m to the players.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)