Malinga rejects claims of refusing to sign contract with Sri Lankan Cricket

Colombo: Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga has rejected claims that he had declined to sign this year’s contract with Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) and stressed he will be available for all national commitments.

“No contracts have been offered yet for this year for any of the players.But whether I decide to play with or without [a] contract, does not really matter as I am still 100-percent available for selection for all ODI and T20 commitments for Sri Lanka just like I was last year,” Malinga said. Malinga is likely to be offered a contract in which the stated play would be 60-percent less than what players in the same top-level category earn because he no longer plays Test cricket. He will be tied to a SLC contract for US 40,000 dollars if he accepts the agreement. Malinga played as a non-contracted player from March 2011 - February 2012, but made himself available for all of Sri Lanka’s limited-over fixtures. He had earlier turned down offers to play in tournaments in Australia, South Africa and England. He announced his retirement from Test cricket in 2011 to prolong his injury-prone career by playing just ODIs and T20s. ANI