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Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is set to play against India in the limited-overs series, starting July 13. Five members of the Sri Lankan team have refused to sign "tour contracts". These five cricketers are Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Embuldeniya, and Ashen Bandara.
The Sri Lankan cricket team members are already in conflict with the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board. This unresolved conflict is due to the new performance and fitness-standard-based contracts introduced by the board. As many as 24 players have refused to sign these new contracts.
The SLC board introduced tour-based contracts as a temporary measure. This would enable cricketers to represent the country while the main performance-based contract issue is resolved. In spite of this, the five aforementioned players have refused to sign even the tour contracts.
As a result, they cannot be selected to play against India in the limited-overs series. They were also not included in the ongoing residential camps at Dambulla and Colombo.
Ashley de Silva, the SLC CEO, stated that the players cannot be included in the national team or the two residential camps. However, he also noted that if they do sign the contracts before training begins, they might be in with a chance of being selected. But the players showed reluctance to sign the tour contract. Thereby, they did not join the bio-bubble in Dambulla or Colombo.
The core group of Sri Lankan players is currently in England for a limited-overs series against the host nation. The Sri Lankan team lost the three-match T20I series with a 3-0 win for England. In the ODI series as well, the Sri Lankan team is 1-0 down against England.
Three Sri Lankan players broke the bio-bubble protocols
For Sri Lankan cricket, things have been messy off-field for quite some time. Three players including vice-captain Kusal Mendis along with Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella broke the bio bubble protocol of England. They were sent home after they were found guilty of not following the proper rules.
According to various reports, the Sri Lankan cricket board would give them a long ban from playing international cricket. They would also face a 12-month suspension from playing for Sri Lanka.