To uphold the image of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and ensure discipline and professionalism among players, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has announced a series of new guidelines for both players and staff. These guidelines cover various aspects including sportswear, travel, and social media use.
Mandatory Attire and Appearance
Players and staff are now required to wear specific attire for different occasions. For team photos, it is mandatory to wear provided shirts, trousers, and blazers. Similarly, sports attire is compulsory for events such as the match toss, national anthem ceremonies, and award presentations. The wearing of shorts and sandals in these scenarios will be strictly prohibited to maintain a professional image.
Travel Regulations
During competition trips, players must use SLC-provided bags and are not allowed to wear products or logos from third-party sponsors. Travel details will be provided by the team manager two weeks before the tour, and players must adhere to them without exception.
Social Media and Personal Conduct
To ensure players remain focused on the sport, there are new restrictions on social media use, playing video games, and watching movies at night during tournaments. Comments or interviews on social media without prior approval from SLC are also banned. Additionally, using phones during match days and training periods is prohibited.
Press Conferences and Media Interaction
Only those nominated by the team manager are permitted to attend press conferences, and they must be appropriately attired.
Interaction with Managers and Family Visits
Players and staff are forbidden from meeting their managers during tournaments, and managers are barred from attending team meetings. For long tournaments exceeding 20 days, players can bring their spouses and children over five years old for the final 12 days of the tour, but they must cover all related expenses. Bringing other relatives or close acquaintances is not allowed.
Daily Allowances and Weight Regulations
Players will receive a daily allowance of $150 for overseas trips and $100 for domestic tournaments for their meals. Deliberately skipping meals to save this money is banned. Players can carry up to 80 kg of luggage on foreign trips, with an additional 20 kg allowed for competition-related items, subject to team manager approval.
Training and Compliance
The daily training schedule will be determined by the team coach, manager, and captain. Adherence to this schedule is mandatory, and non-compliance may result in deportation back to Sri Lanka.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Violations of these guidelines could lead to severe penalties, including fines of up to $10,000, removal from the team, or redirection. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has emphasized the importance of these measures in maintaining the discipline and professionalism of its players and staff.
Source – Divaina (Waradaththa Akalanka).