Players have to honour national duty: Ranatunga

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket Interim Committee Chairman Arjuna Ranatunga has issued a stern warning to Indian Premier League bound national players, saying they will have to give priority to next year's tour against England over the lucrative Twenty20 league.
The current impasse between the Lankan cricketers and SLC crept up following collision of dates for the emerald nation's England tour and second edition of the IPL in April-May next year.
"As far as SLC is concerned we will not change our decision to send the team to play in England. We have signed an MOU with England and Wales Cricket Board and we have to honour that," Ranatunga was quoted as saying.
Although, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene and some senior players have threatened to call it a day to play in the IPL, Ranatunga said it won't be a cakewalk.
"They need to sign a two-year contract with the ICC and SLC even if they are to retire and go to the IPL," contended Ranatunga adding "We gave them the green light to play only in the inaugural IPL tournament."
Apart from Jayawardene, other Lankan cricketers who are in confrontation with the Board over the issue were Kumar Sangakkara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Tilakratne Dilshan and Ajantha Mendis.
However, Ranatunga said if the President or Sports Minister decides to take a call, it would be totally different thing. Ranatunga also pointed out that IPL will not entertain players who intend to retire early from the game for IPL.
"In fact, IPL Chairman Lalit Modi had even indicated to Australian cricketer Andrew Symonds that IPL would not have retired players," he said.