SL's IPL players object to allegations of duping the public

    
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka players have questioned the leakage of a confidential letter written to their cricket board and objected to reports that the cricketers had duped the nation regarding their IPL contracts which resulted in cancellation of the England tour.
    
In an effort to clear the air, Sri Lanka vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara said the SLC knew all along that the players were auctioned to the IPL for three years and since their contract with the cricket board is renewed on yearly basis, no objection certificates were sought for 2008 only.
    
"Yes, we were auctioned (with IPL) for three years. We were auctioned at a certain price and every single player who played in the IPL signed a three year contract," said Sangakkara.
    
The wicketkeeper-batsman said he was pained to see criticisms directed against Sri Lanka's IPL-bound players which claimed that they did not seek permission from the board before signing for the second edition of the Twenty20 league which led to the cancellation of the series against England.
    
"The SLC knew that we had signed a three-year contract, but our contract with the SLC are yearly contracts," Sangakkara said on Thursday.
    
"I was very perturbed by what went on in these months as a player. You always try as player to stay away from controversy, to do what is right and to play our cricket in peace," he said.
    
"But there was an article in a newspaper under the heading 'did the country's top cricketers dupe the public and the government'. (The article also published the letter written by Jayawardene and the SLC)."

"There are certain things that we can ignore and take and even though we worry about it basically (we are) not making any comments. But we may be accused of misleading the public and the government of Sri Lanka. I think it is time to clear that," Sangakkara said.
    
The vice-captain said if the players had three-year contracts with the (Sri Lanka) cricket board, they could have asked for blanket leave of three years to play in the IPL.
    
"But another important fact is that if a Sri Lankan player is not offered a contract, his contract is not renewed or if he is not under contract, he does not require the permission of SLC to participate in the IPL."
    
Therefore, he said that six months prior to the start of the first edition of the IPL the players had asked for a no objection certificate from the board to participate in the 2008 IPL and that it was granted in writing and was taken up for further discussion.
    
Sangakkara said during the meeting the issue was discussed and everyone knew that three-year contracts have been signed by the players with the IPL.
    
"It is understood that because our contracts are a yearly contracts we really dont have to ask for more than one year's permission from the SLC. But of course if players are contracted or under contract (with SLC) in 2009 and they are also participants in the IPL then of course we have to ask and request again for an NOC for  year 2009. If that happens again in the year 2010 yes we have to ask permission again in 2010," Sangakkara said.
    
"So we have not mislead anyone, the public or anyone else on the issue of contractual obligations with the IPL or in any manner or decided to dupe, the public, the sports minister and the government of Sri Lanka by lying to them," Sangakkara said.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene said he was a bit hurt to see the confidential letter written to the SLC being leaked.
    
"Unfortunately confidential letters have come out from SLC which we are very disappointed about," he said.
    
"I am a bit hurt but I think this is part and parcel of cricket. I guess. When you are playing for your country with a passion and pride I think these kind of allegations probably do come your way and you just need to look it like a usual bouncer and you just need to let it go.
    
"But unfortunately with these kind of allegations we just could not let this bouncer go. Purely because it was very serious and that tarnished (the image) of not only mine but the rest of the (IPL bound players) team as well," he said.
    
The controversy started when the SLC Chairman and former World Cup winning cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga finalised the English tour next year that clashed with the dates of the second edition of the IPL.
    
"Since it was only a few months since Mr Ranatunga had assumed office when he finalised the English tour, he was not aware the players had entered into a contract for IPL for three years since the SLC documents had shown that a no objection letter was given by it for them to play only for one year," SLC sources had said.
    
Ranatunga has blamed the IPL bound players for not agreeing to participate in the whole English tour (as it clashed with the IPL matches) that led to the cancellation of the away tour.