Sri Lanka cricketers could 'strike work' ahead of the series against India as they have not been paid for the last four months.

Sri Lanka cricketers could 'strike work' ahead of the series against India as they have not been paid for the last four months.

According to media reports in the island nation, the dispute between the players and Sri Lanka Cricket has reached a boiling point and an emergency meeting has been called for later this week.

The report added that the the Sri Lanka team, that won the Asia up in Pakistan, had played the tournament without a player contract in place. It is said that the players put the money matters aside holding back the row with administrators.

"We did not even see a first draft of the new contract until seven weeks after our last contract lapsed. We have waited patiently for weeks, we have even played on despite being unpaid, but we are now fed up and need this resolved fast," a Sri Lankan player was quoted as saying by an international news agency.

The Daily Mirror newspaper quoted another: "We could have boycotted the Asia Cup but we wanted to prove a point. Now everyone knows who the wrong-doers are."

Annual player contracts, according to regulations, should have been finalised by March 31 but they are still not in place and none of the Lankan team members are, therefore, under any obligation to the Board.

"We are hopeful that we will be able to come to an agreement and sign the contract with the players before the Indian tour. But it all depends on the outcome of the meeting with the players," SLC secretary Mathivanan was quoted as saying.

Junior players in Sri lanka receive USD 15,000 a year as a retainer, the lowest annual contract fees of all Test playing nations. And the senior cricketers had demanded a significant increase in the contract fees for them.

However, Board chief Arjauna Ranatunga has reportedly refused any hike in the fees and instead has proposed that players be fined in case they lose a Test match.