SLPL to be hosted by Colombo, Pallekele in August this year - Cricket News Update
The Sri Lankan cricket authorities have confirmed that a domestic Twenty20 league, parallel to the famed Indian Premier League (IPL), will be hosted by the country in August this year, just a month before the World T20 Championship.
The board revealed in a statement that the tournament, named as Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL), will be played from August 10 to 31. The tournament, featuring seven provincial teams, will be played at two venues the Pallekele International Stadium, Pallekele,
and the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
A total of 24 matches will be played in the Twenty20 league which will also feature international players, but they are yet to be named.
"Twenty20's massive popularity and status as the most exciting and entertaining format of cricket will be further enhanced by this newest tournament to the world of cricket," said the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in a statement on Thursday.
"International players will be playing in the SLPL alongside Sri Lankan national cricketers and young Sri Lankan hopefuls," the statement read further.
Initially, the league was scheduled to be held in July 2011, but SLC was forced to postpone it due to lack of finances and unavailability of top Indian players, as the Board of Control for Cricket in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 (BCCI) refused from allowing its players to participate.
Only Sri Lankan players participated in the test ride last year.
But this time, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 Cricket authorities are hopeful of grabbing international attention by playing international players as well in the tournament. Each team is allowed to sign up to foreign players, but with a provision that a playing XI could
feature only four of them at a time. Also, it will be necessary for each team to play an under-21 Sri Lankan player in every game.
Icons for each team, from among the national players, will be announced shortly. Branding of the teams will be based on the unique features of the provinces they will be representing, the SLC release further read.
Sri Lanka Cricket has also signed a new deal with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Somerset-c843 Entertainment Ventures to organize the event.
The seven teams featuring in the tournament are: 1. Basnahira Bears, 2. Kandurata Kites, 3. Nagenahira Nagas, 4. Ruhuna Rhinos, 5. Uthura Oryxes, 6. Uva Unicorns 7. Wayamba Wolves.
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