Chaminda Vaas, a former Sri Lankan international cricketer, is widely celebrated as one of the country’s greatest fast bowlers. Known for his exceptional skill in swinging the ball and accuracy, Vaas played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s cricket history, especially in the Test and One-Day International (ODI) formats.
Here we have Chaminda Vaas’s net worth, earnings, career, achievements, and more.
Chaminda Vaas’s Biography
| Personal Details | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas |
| Date of Birth | January 27, 1974 |
| Place of Birth | Mattumagala, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Left-arm fast-medium |
| Role | Bowler |
| International Debut | 1994 |
| Test Matches | 111 |
| ODI Matches | 322 |
| T20I Matches | 6 |
Chaminda Vaas was born on January 27, 1974, in Mattumagala, Sri Lanka. He made his international debut for Sri Lanka in 1994 and became a central player in the team, known for his consistent performance and impressive pace attack.
As a left-arm fast-medium bowler and right-handed batsman, Vaas built a career that spanned nearly two decades. After his retirement, Vaas transitioned to coaching, bringing his experience to younger players worldwide.
Career
Chaminda Vaas’s career began with his international debut in 1994, quickly establishing him as a skilled pacer. Vaas was known for his accuracy, sharp inswinging deliveries, and ability to exploit both new and old balls.
Throughout his Test career, Vaas played in 111 matches and took 355 wickets at an impressive average. His skill was not limited to Tests; in ODIs, he was particularly dominant, finishing with 400 wickets in 322 matches.
One of the defining moments of Vaas’s career was his record-breaking performance against Zimbabwe in 2001, where he achieved an incredible 8 wickets for just 19 runs, showcasing his ability to dismantle an entire batting lineup.
Additionally, Vaas holds a remarkable record in ODI cricket, being the only bowler to take an 8-wicket haul in a single match.
Throughout his career, Vaas had significant achievements, such as the hat-trick against Bangladesh during the 2003 Cricket World Cup and consistently taking key wickets against top teams.
His record of 23 wickets in a single World Cup tournament stood out, contributing to his reputation as one of the world’s finest bowlers in ODIs.
Even after his retirement in 2009, Vaas continued contributing to cricket as a coach, sharing his expertise with Sri Lanka’s next generation and other international teams.
Records and Achievements
- Test Cricket: 355 wickets in 111 matches, best bowling in an innings – 7/71.
- ODI Cricket: 400 wickets in 322 matches, best bowling in an innings – 8/19 (a record in ODIs).
- Only player to take an 8-wicket haul in ODIs.
- Hat-trick against Bangladesh in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
- Holds the record for the best bowling figures in a World Cup match by a Sri Lankan.
- One of the few bowlers with 300+ wickets in both Test and ODI formats.
Chaminda Vaas’s Net Worth Details
Chaminda Vaas’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million as of 2025, which he amassed from his cricketing career, endorsements, coaching roles, and commentary engagements.
His career earnings were boosted by his central contracts with the Sri Lankan national team, prize money from various matches, and franchise leagues he participated in after retirement. In addition, his roles in coaching and media continue to provide significant income.
Salary
During his playing career, Vaas’s salary included match fees, central contracts, and bonuses from the Sri Lankan Cricket Board.
| Year | Salary (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| 2005 | $100,000 |
| 2010 | $200,000 |
| 2020 | $300,000 (Coaching) |
Net Worth Growth
| Year | Net Worth |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $3 million |
| 2021 | $3.5 million |
| 2022 | $4 million |
| 2023 | $4.5 million |
| 2024 | $5 million |
Endorsements
Chaminda Vaas has had endorsements with brands such as Reebok, Mas Holdings, and Dilmah Tea. His brand associations have emphasized his sportsmanship, reliability, and expertise.
Stats
Here’s a table for Chaminda Vaas’s career bowling stats:
| Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | Runs | W | BB | Econ | Avg | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 111 | 194 | 23438 | 895 | 10501 | 355 | 7/71 | 2.68 | 29.6 | 66.0 | 20 | 12 |
| ODI | 322 | 320 | 15775 | 279 | 11014 | 400 | 8/19 | 4.18 | 27.5 | 39.4 | 9 | 4 |
| T20I | 6 | 6 | 132 | 1 | 128 | 6 | 2/14 | 5.81 | 21.3 | 22.0 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL | 13 | 13 | 282 | 2 | 355 | 18 | 3/21 | 7.55 | 19.7 | 15.7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1st Class | 227 | 384 | 41266 | 1597 | 19027 | 772 | 7/28 | 2.77 | 24.6 | 53.5 | 37 | 34 |
| List A | 412 | 406 | 19423 | 359 | 13455 | 507 | 8/19 | 4.16 | 26.5 | 38.3 | 12 | 4 |
| T20 | 56 | 54 | 1131 | 5 | 1278 | 64 | 3/16 | 6.78 | 20.0 | 17.7 | 0 | 0 |
FAQs
1. What are Chaminda Vaas’s most notable achievements in cricket?
Chaminda Vaas is the only bowler to take 8 wickets in an ODI innings (8/19 against Zimbabwe in 2001). He has 355 Test and 400 ODI wickets, making him Sri Lanka’s most successful pace bowler. He also achieved two ODI hat-tricks, including one in the first three balls of a World Cup match.
2. What is Chaminda Vaas’s full name, and why is it significant?
His full name is Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas. It is one of the longest names in cricket history, often abbreviated as WPUJC Vaas.
3. What was Chaminda Vaas’s role in Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup victory?
Vaas was part of the Sri Lankan squad that won the 1996 Cricket World Cup. As a key bowler, he contributed significantly to the team’s success with his swing and seam bowling.
4. What are Chaminda Vaas’s best bowling performances?
His best performances include 8/19 against Zimbabwe (ODI, 2001), 6/25 against Bangladesh (World Cup, 2003), and 5/14 against India (ODI, 2000). The 8/19 remains the best bowling figure in ODI history.
5. How did Chaminda Vaas contribute as a batsman?
Vaas was a reliable lower-order batsman with over 3,000 Test runs, including a century against Bangladesh in 2007. He also scored 13 Test half-centuries.
6. What coaching roles has Chaminda Vaas undertaken after retirement?
Vaas has served as Sri Lanka’s fast-bowling coach multiple times and held coaching positions with teams like Ireland and Dhaka Dominators in the Bangladesh Premier League.
7. How many international wickets did Chaminda Vaas take during his career?
He took a total of 761 international wickets: 355 in Tests, 400 in ODIs, and 6 in T20Is, making him one of cricket’s most successful bowlers.
8. What unique records does Chaminda Vaas hold?
Vaas holds the record for the best ODI bowling figures (8/19) and is one of only four bowlers to achieve two ODI hat-tricks. He also dismissed Chris Gayle and Herschelle Gibbs for ducks seven times each.
9. What was Chaminda Vaas’s playing style as a bowler?
Vaas was known for his exceptional control, swing, and seam movement. His trademark delivery was the late indipper, complemented by a disguised off-cutter and reverse swing later in his career.
10. What is Chaminda Vaas’s legacy in Sri Lankan cricket?
As Sri Lanka’s most successful pacer, he led their bowling attack for over a decade. His partnership with Muttiah Muralitharan is one of the most productive in cricket history, inspiring future generations of bowlers worldwide.
