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cricket:image:1427579 [900x506] (Credit: Getty Images)

Unfazed by delayed start to season JDT immediately pick up where they left off

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has handed out upgraded central contracts to a whopping 41 male players, up from 29 previously. Like in previous years, there are six categories - A1, A2, B2, C1, C2, and 'A' Team - with several performance-based clauses included.

However, SLC has declined to disclose the exact categories each of the players has been slotted in, with CEO Ashley de Silva telling ESPNcricinfo, "We don't want to negatively impact player morale by publicly revealing that information."

The expanded contract list means new faces such as Shevon Daniel, Dushan Hemantha, Nuwanidu Fernando and Sahan Arachchige have all earned deals despite their limited game time with the national side.

In all, 18 fresh players have been brought on board, and six players dropped - most notably Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Danushka Gunathilaka, who have not turned out for the national team in over a year. Lahiru Thirimanne, Nuwan Pradeep, Minod Bhanuka and Lakshan Sandakan are the other four to not make the cut from the last set of contracts handed out in 2022.

Key in the new contracts is a focus on red-ball cricket, with Test-match fees seeing a 100% bump, the idea being to incentivise players to make themselves available for the longer format of the game. The payments, though, will be merit-based with "different payment structures" depending on results. ODI and T20I match fees have had a flat 25% increase.

Along with enhanced daily allowances, players will also receive one-time payments for topping the ICC player rankings either as a batter, a bowler or an allrounder. Players making it into the top ten in the rankings but not topping them will also be granted a one-time payment.

Sri Lanka's centrally contracted men's players Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Prabath Jayasuriya, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ramesh Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Lahiru Kumara, Nishan Madushka, Matheesha Pathirana, Kusal Janith Perera, Vishwa Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Pramod Madushan, Janith Liyanage, Akila Dananjaya, Praveen Jayawickrama, Nuwan Thushara, Sahan Arachchige, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dushan Hemantha, Lasith Embuldeniya, Binura Fernando, Shevon Daniel, Niroshan Dickwella, Ashen Bandara, Oshada Fernando, Avishka Fernando