Kusal Mendis named inaugural president of Sri Lanka players' association
Sri Lankan cricketers have taken a significant step towards gaining a stronger collective voice with the launch of the Sri Lankan Professional Cricketers’ Association (SLPCA) on Saturday. White-ball captain Kusal Mendis has been named the organisation’s first president, while several of the country’s leading players, including women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, are backing the initiative.
The SLPCA has been created as an independent body designed to represent professional cricketers and address issues affecting their careers, welfare and working conditions.
“The formation of the SLPCA comes at a landmark time for Sri Lankan cricket, following a sustained period of positive progress and reform across the sport in the country, including the work of the game’s transformation committee to strengthen governance and modernise the domestic structure,” a media release said.
Its formation comes at a time of considerable change within Sri Lankan cricket. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is undergoing an administrative overhaul led by a government-appointed Transformation Committee, while plans for a new constitution are also being developed. The players’ association is expected to become another important part of the effort to reshape the sport’s governance structure.
“Alongside the governance reforms and transformation work already underway, having a genuine, organised player voice is another important step toward a modern, collaborative game that is aligned with international best practice,” the release added.
A major feature of the SLPCA is its affiliation with the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), which represents professional players internationally. The partnership will give Sri Lankan cricketers greater access to the WCA’s global programmes, welfare initiatives and player-representation networks.
The connection is already being strengthened at the international level. Athapaththu was appointed to the WCA Player Advisory Board earlier this year, giving Sri Lankan women’s cricket a direct presence within the organisation’s global player structure.
Until now, Sri Lanka had been among the major cricket-playing nations without a formal players’ body affiliated with the WCA, alongside countries such as India and Pakistan. The SLPCA’s launch brings Sri Lankan cricket closer to the model followed by established organisations including the Australian Cricketers’ Association, England’s Professional Cricketers’ Association and the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association.
The new body could also play an important role in resolving long-running disagreements between players and SLC. Issues surrounding no-objection certificates, fitness requirements and player availability for overseas franchise competitions have repeatedly created friction. Earlier this year, similar concerns emerged around conditions attached to NOCs for participation in leagues such as the IPL.
“We’re proud to have established SPCA to represent Sri Lanka’s players at this important time, and we look forward to working constructively and collaboratively with Sri Lanka Cricket, the Transformation Committee, and other stakeholders as cricket continues to grow,” Kusal, as SPCA president, said.
Sri Lanka has had a players’ union in the past. The Sri Lanka Cricketers’ Association operated intermittently from 2001, but its structure and leadership attracted criticism, particularly over the influence of former players and concerns about its independence from the cricket board.
The SLPCA is intended to represent a different approach. It is being led by active players, including captains and established names from both the men’s and women’s teams. The inclusion of women’s cricket on an equal footing is another notable aspect of the new organisation, making the SLPCA a broader player-representation platform than its predecessors.
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