
White-ball captain Kusal Mendis has been elected the first president of the newly formed Sri Lankan Professional Cricketers' Association, launched on Saturday. The World Cricketers' Association (WCA) backed the move, with CEO Tom Moffat stating that a strong game requires a strong player voice. Women's captain Chamari Athapaththu also supports the body, which will focus on negotiating with Sri Lanka Cricket over franchise cricket permissions. The association comes as Sri Lanka Cricket undergoes a government-appointed reform process. Players in 17 of the top 19 cricket nations are now affiliated with the WCA, with India and Pakistan the exceptions.
The launch of the Sri Lankan Professional Cricketers' Association is welcome, but some may overstate it as a cure-all or dismiss it as a talking shop. The real test is whether the board grants players genuine negotiating power on franchise cricket, not just a seat at the table. Will Sri Lanka Cricket allow the association to shape the No-Objection Certificate process, or will this remain a one-sided affair? That answer will decide if this is reform or rhetoric.
Source: rediff.com
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Ashin Xavier: interesting
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