All the leading Sri Lankan players did not agree with a new performance-based pay scheme.
A statement from the lawyer representing almost all the leading Sri Lankan players said they did not agree with a new performance-based pay scheme.
"Players refuse to sign annual and tour contracts until the pay dispute is resolved," lawyer Nishan Premathiratne said.
The statement came as Sri Lanka Cricket extended the 3 June deadline until Sunday (June 6).
"Even when players are refused pay, they will play for the country because that is their main objective," Premathiratne further added.
Former captain Angelo Mathews and Test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne have copped the biggest pay cuts.
While Mathews' annual fee fell from $130,000 a year to $80,000, Karunaratne was offered $70,000, a drop of $30,000.
Last month, Sri Lanka Cricket said that 24 of its leading cricketers had been offered contracts under 4 categories.
As far as the contract is concerned – only six players featured in category A and their annual pay ranges between USD 70,000 to 100,000. Batsman Dhananjaya de Silva earns the most – 100,000 with the rest of them were to receive 70-80,000 US dollars.
Subsequently, the Sri Lankan players said in a joint statement that they were “shocked and dismayed” by SLC’s decision to go public with specific payment details of players. They felt that public disclosure has given them a security concern.
When the new pay plan was unveiled last month, Sri Lanka Cricket had said players could earn more under a new performance-based pay scheme formulated with the help of former skipper Aravinda de Silva and cricket director Tom Moody.
The board officials had cited that in addition to base fees, there are payments for each match and allowances for travel outside Colombo.
(With AFP inputs)