Sangakkara slams SLC for questioning his loyalty

Sri Lankan ace Kumar Sangakkara has blasted Sri Lanka Cricket for bringing his loyalty into question, even after he confirmed his decision to play for Kandutara Maroon’s over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Champions League.

He stated that he is happy to represent his home team, but was perplexed by the way the board framed his situation, which he thinks does not bring up the issue of country loyalty. Sangakkara is set to lose $140,000 from his IPL salary as a result of his decision.

“I was quite upset that there were statements released by individuals in an official capacity, where my loyalty to the country was brought into question,” Sangakkara told ESPNcricinfo. “The statements were made to put me at a disadvantage and to make me appear in a very bad light. Certain individuals’ efforts to isolate me as a player misled the public and inflamed the issue further.

“Well-placed comments have twisted this into a country versus money, which it is definitely not, because this is a franchise-based tournament where franchises play franchises. It was made out to sound like I was choosing money over country.”

Sangakkara’s comments targeted SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga, who had told ESPNcricinfo the board would prefer Kandurata’s IPL players played “for their country” in the Champions League.

“There’s been a statement made that SLC was willing to lose $150,000 by getting me to play for Kandurata. I think the true picture is that I incurred a considerable financial loss out of my salary, and the board incurs a financial loss of $150,000 out of approximately $1.5 million that they will earn through the Champions League, via player commissions of 10% on each players’ contract, plus the half a million dollars the Champions League pays for franchise participation. I think there is little or no comparison in the amounts lost. None of the board members or anyone else loses individually, but the player suffers.

“The real matter is not the financial penalty, but the issue of principle. This is not a country versus money issue, but it was created to be so, and I as a player was left alone to be caught in the middle of it.

“Since I got my first contract in 2003, I haven’t taken any money to play for my club. I haven’t taken any of the prize money from the domestic championships. I haven’t taken any money to play in the provincials or any prize money. I’ve always redistributed that money either to the side, or in the case of my club, to the workers at the club, because I think as a matter of principle; because I hold a national contract, I shouldn’t charge for playing first-class cricket in Sri Lanka. “

Sangakkara said the board had not requested him to play for Kandurata until a meeting on Tuesday evening