COLOMBO:The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee on Friday decided to increase its number of contracted players to 76.

Interim Committee secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said that in addition to the 20 national cricketers and 15 players from the 'A' team, a further 41 players will be contracted on the following basis — 17 cricketers from the Development Squad, 15 cricketers from Academy and nine from Sixes and Twenty20 specialists.

"We have decided to contract 15 players from the academy who will be between the ages of 19 and 22," Ranatunga said. "This is to prevent talented cricketers from the schools being lost due to job and other related factors. These cricketers will be upgraded to the development squad each year depending on their performances and new players recruited to the academy."

Ranatunga also said that the national cricketers would sign their new contracts on their return from South Africa. He said the team for the World Twenty20 would be selected shortly and they would leave for England on May 28. The World Twenty20 will take place from June 5-21.

The secretary also said SLC would advertise for a permanent coach for the ‘A’ team and development squad. With former Sri Lanka cricketer Chandika Hathurusingha, who was a successful ‘A’ team coach being elevated to the national team as a shadow assistant coach for batting, the ‘A’ team coach position has become vacant. Ranatunga said another former Sri Lanka cricketer Romesh Kaluwitharana has been temporarily appointed to fill the vacancy.