Pata
08-08-2007, 11:13 PM
Marvan Atapattu was yesterday released from his contract with Sri Lanka Cricket effectively ending the former captain’s commitments with the team in the future.
Atapattu, who made his debut against India in Mohali in 1991, scored 5,330 runs from 88 Tests besides making over 8000 runs in one-day cricket.
“We have granted him (Atapattu) his request and he is no longer available for selection to the Sri Lanka team”, a Sri Lanka Cricket official said yesterday.
In a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket Atapattu requested that he be released from his contract which would enable him to decide what is best for the remainder of his playing career.
He reportedly fell foul with the cricket establishment after he was left out from playing a part at the recent World Cup despite being a member of the squad.
But many observers saw Atapattu virtually retiring from Sri Lanka cricket after he made himself unavailable for the recent Bangladesh home series in a virtual tit-for-tat reply to the cricket administration.
Atapattu was one of just six players with an 'A'-graded contract which was to expire in March 2008.
He is currently playing for the Lashings World XI in England for a contracted fee.
Michael Vandort is being tipped to secure the slot held by Atapattu.
Meanwhile in another development veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya according to a source at Sri Lanka Cricket is contemplating seeking a temporary release from his contract that would make him accept a 500,000 US dollar job with the Indian Cricket League for a series of 20-20 matches.
It is learnt that Jayasuriya is hoping to put forward the case of Atapattu who was permitted to skip the Bangladesh tour for a stint with the Lashings team in England.
In his case Jayasuriya could either skip the five-match one-day series against England in October or Sri Lanka’s two Test matches in Australia in November.
“If he (Jayasuriya) makes a request (to be released) we will have to look into it”, said a Sri Lanka Cricket official.
Jayasuriya is reported to have been offered 500,000 US dollars to play in the Indian Cricket League for a three-year period while Atapattu has been offered 400,000 to play in the six-team 20-20 series which is targeting some of the big names on the international scene.
Atapattu, who made his debut against India in Mohali in 1991, scored 5,330 runs from 88 Tests besides making over 8000 runs in one-day cricket.
“We have granted him (Atapattu) his request and he is no longer available for selection to the Sri Lanka team”, a Sri Lanka Cricket official said yesterday.
In a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket Atapattu requested that he be released from his contract which would enable him to decide what is best for the remainder of his playing career.
He reportedly fell foul with the cricket establishment after he was left out from playing a part at the recent World Cup despite being a member of the squad.
But many observers saw Atapattu virtually retiring from Sri Lanka cricket after he made himself unavailable for the recent Bangladesh home series in a virtual tit-for-tat reply to the cricket administration.
Atapattu was one of just six players with an 'A'-graded contract which was to expire in March 2008.
He is currently playing for the Lashings World XI in England for a contracted fee.
Michael Vandort is being tipped to secure the slot held by Atapattu.
Meanwhile in another development veteran batsman Sanath Jayasuriya according to a source at Sri Lanka Cricket is contemplating seeking a temporary release from his contract that would make him accept a 500,000 US dollar job with the Indian Cricket League for a series of 20-20 matches.
It is learnt that Jayasuriya is hoping to put forward the case of Atapattu who was permitted to skip the Bangladesh tour for a stint with the Lashings team in England.
In his case Jayasuriya could either skip the five-match one-day series against England in October or Sri Lanka’s two Test matches in Australia in November.
“If he (Jayasuriya) makes a request (to be released) we will have to look into it”, said a Sri Lanka Cricket official.
Jayasuriya is reported to have been offered 500,000 US dollars to play in the Indian Cricket League for a three-year period while Atapattu has been offered 400,000 to play in the six-team 20-20 series which is targeting some of the big names on the international scene.