Unpaid Lankan cricketers get support from South African players
Johannesburg: Unpaid by their Board for the past eight months, the Sri Lankan cricketers got the support of their South African counterparts, who feel it's a credit to Tillakaratne Dilshan's men that they have still carried on with national duty.
Unpaid by their Board for the past eight months, the Sri Lankan cricketers got the support of their South African counterparts, who feel it's a credit to Tillakaratne Dilshan's men that they have still carried on with national duty. © AFP
In a statement issued by the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA), Proteas Test captain Graeme Smith said the situation is "far from ideal".
The players have not been by a cash-strapped Sri Lanka Cricket, which is awaiting $4.3 million payments from the ICC for co-hosting this year's World Cup, and the South Africans hoped that the matter would be resolved soon.
"We want to show our support for Tillakaratne Dilshan and our fellow professional cricketers from Sri Lanka on this issue," Smith said.
"It is far from ideal that the Sri Lankan team is about to start a tough Test series and ODI series in South Africa without having been paid any of their remuneration for the last eight months," he added.
Proteas ODI captain AB de Villiers said non-payment of players' dues is not right given how professionally the sport is managed now.
"In this age of professionalism in cricket this kind of thing should not be happening," de Villiers said.
"It's a credit to the players that they've kept playing for their country since March despite all of this. We hope it gets sorted out soon."
The Sri Lankan Cricketers' Association (SLCA) has sought the Federation of International Cricketers' Association's help on the matter.
South Africa are set to host Sri Lanka for three Tests and five ODIs and SACA's chief-executive Tony Irish hoped that the matter would be resolved before the Dilshan and Co start their tour game against South Africa A on December 9.
"It's difficult to understand how a board which has just co-hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup can find itself in such a desperate financial situation that it can't pay its national team of fully contracted professionals for months on end," Irish was quoted as saying by a website.
"We know that the players association in Sri Lanka is doing what it can to sort this out for the players and we hope for some positive progress before the first match of the tour starts against," he added.
Clarke earns home fans' support after ton
Michael Clarke chuckled at the thought of the standing ovation he received from the home crowd after his century put Australia in a powerful position against New Zealand in the first Test.
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Almost a year ago he was booed by local fans in a one-day international win against England as he came out to bat at the same Brisbane ground.
But this time the Australian skipper was given a rapturous send-off as he left the field following his charmed knock of 139.
"It's always nice that your home fans support you. That's nice, yeah," Clarke laughed after Saturday's third day stumps.
"It's probably a little bit of an expectation. You would hope that you get support.
"For me, it's about scoring runs and helping this team win games of cricket. Hopefully, I can continue to earn the public's respect."
Although Clarke casts a genial and polite image, he polarises opinion among the country's cricket followers, with some people disapproving of his perceived glamorous lifestyle.
On the day Clarke took over as Test captain from Ricky Ponting last January, a newspaper poll showed only eight percent of respondents favoured the appointment.
The Kiwis made it easier for Clarke on his way to his 17th Test century.
Wicketkeeper Reece Young and Jesse Ryder spilled catches, both off the luckless paceman Doug Bracewell.
And Clarke was also bowled off an inside edge late Friday only to get a reprieve when Bracewell was found to have overstepped for a no-ball.
He made the Black Caps pay dearly in a 108-run sixth wicket stand with Brad Haddin for Australia to take control of the match.
Clarke was out on the fourth ball after tea, caught at deep backward square by Tim Southee off Chris Martin, ending his 368-minute stay which included 19 fours and a six.
It was Clarke's fourth Test hundred against the Kiwis and second in his last five Test innings.
"Little bit of luck, which obviously goes a long way. Most importantly, a really good day from us from the team," he said.
"Once I got that life on 20-odd, it was important for me to go on and make a big score for the team.
"It's been nice to make a few runs. I've needed them after the summer I had last year (against England), so since taking over the captaincy I've got a couple of hundreds, which is nice."
