Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have readjusted the commencement date of the ‘Lanka Premier League’ (LPL) from November 14 to November 21 in order to ensure that participating players have adequate time to meet quarantine requirements.
The move is aimed at giving an opportunity for the players taking part in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season to make it to the LPL.
“Since the IPL will go until the 10th of November, we thought to keep some space for the players taking part in the IPL, and who wish to make it to the LPL to take part in the tournament,” said Ravin Wickramaratne, The Tournament Director of LPL, in an SLC media statement.
The ‘Player Draft’ of the tournament, which was to take place on October 1, has now been shifted to October 9.
The LPL — which will consist of five franchises, whilst each can buy up to six international players — was initially set to take place from August 28 to September 20 but was postponed due to the constantly evolving Covid-19 situation.
The 23 match League is to be be played at three international venues of Rangiri Dambulu International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced that no Bangladesh players, including star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, will feature in the LPL, in what looks to be a fallout of the eventual postponement of the Test series between the two nations over COVID-19 regulations.
“I don’t see any possibility. And at the same time, we also are going to host domestic cricket,” Nazmul Hassan said replying a question regarding all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s participation in the LPL.
Shakib is currently serving a ban imposed by the ICC due to failing to report corrupt approaches made to him. However, his ban will come to an end in October.
John Stephenson
john@cricketinvestor.co.uk
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