Sri Lankan Cricketers Have Moved On With Pay Dispute Issues: Mickey Arthur

Sri Lankan head coach Mickey Arthur has said that the players have moved on with the pay dispute issue and are now focusing on their upcoming series against England. He further said that a discussion on the pay dispute has not been on the radar ever since the players landed in England. The Lankan players denied taking their paychecks after their salaries were cut down recently by the board. The senior players like Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal expressed their concerns over big deductions.

Meanwhile, a 24-member Sri Lankan side has reached England to play three T20Is and as many ODIs. The tour was on hold after the initial protest of the Lankan players over payment deductions. However, Mickey Arthus has emphasised saying that no further talks have been made since the arrival of the players in the UK for the upcoming series.

No Discussion Over Payments Since Landing In UK: Mickey Arthur

“We have not mentioned it at all. It has not been on the radar.” Since we have been here, it has just been cricket, cricket, cricket,” the veteran coach added from Sri Lanka’s base at Old Trafford in Manchester. Everybody has been mature enough to put it on the back-burner and realise why we’re here so it has not been a distraction. It has not been an issue as far as I know” said Mickey Arthur.

Meanwhile, the Lankan side were scheduled to play warm-up games against Kent and Surrey but they have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mickey Arthur is hailing this upcoming series against England as an important one for Sri Lanka. They recently lost 2-1 against Bangladesh in an ODI series in Bangladesh. Before that, they beat Bangladesh 1-0 in a two-match Test series that the teams played in Sri Lanka.

Speaking about the series Arthur said “This is a massive challenge for our young team but a wonderful opportunity and I just want to see us progressing. To see the players going head-to-head yesterday and competing for positions, it has certainly heightened the challenge”. 

The T20I series will be played between June 23-26 while the ODI series will run from June 29- July 4.

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