Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has introduced random alcohol and drug testing for national players, Cricket Transformation Committee member Sidath Wettimuny said at a press conference in Colombo on Tuesday.
Wettimuny said players would be told that random checks would be carried out from now on. “Random checks on alcohol content, whatever. We are doing that also to make sure the players stay focused on the game and don’t step out of line,” he said.
The testing is part of a wider set of fitness and discipline measures. Players now undergo weekly skinfold measurements to monitor body fat and are given individual fitness routines, Wettimuny said. “We are doing things which we have never done before,” he said.
He said diet had been identified as a major concern. SLC has appointed a dietician to monitor players’ meals in Sri Lanka and on overseas tours, and dietary instructions are being passed directly to the hotels where the team stays. The same fitness and dietary requirements apply to players preparing for upcoming Test matches.
Wettimuny said discussions with players had also covered smoking, alcohol consumption, nutrition and professional conduct, and that players were already looking fitter, more agile and more focused on the field.
Background
At the same press conference, committee member Roshan Mahanama said five player managers had signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with SLC under a new policy on player management. Nearly 30 people applied for accreditation, but only the five who were already working as player managers qualified, he said.
Under the MOU, accredited managers may coordinate with SLC on player registrations, travel, accommodation, welfare, contractual compliance, media appearances and commercial commitments. The agreement bars managers and players from organising or joining collective action meant to improperly influence SLC officials, selectors or other cricket authorities. SLC can suspend or revoke accreditation for breaches or misconduct, and it will recognise only one accredited manager per player at a time.
Mahanama said the policy was written after the committee studied the rules of Cricket Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board, and that the agreements were signed about two weeks earlier.
Wettimuny said SLC had no objection to cricketers appointing personal managers, but they must stay out of cricket matters, including team selection. “We have told the players not to bring their managers to the cricket board,” he said, adding that players could face scrutiny of their own conduct if their managers interfered. He said the committee had not met such problems so far.
What it means
For national players, the changes mean regular body measurements, supervised diets and the possibility of unannounced alcohol and drug checks at home and on tour. SLC has not said what penalties would apply to a failed test.
For agents and cricketers, representation in dealings with the board will now run through accredited managers, with one manager recognised for each player. Eligible people who wish to work as player managers have been encouraged by SLC to register under the new policy.
