Domestic cricket set to return

By Madushka Balasuriya

Sri Lanka Cricket is aiming to resume its halted 2019/2020 domestic season by the end of the month, with the country’s Sports Ministry having already given the go-ahead, Daily FT understands.

The 14-team Premier League Tournament Tier A tournament was suspended in March following the COVID-19 outbreak with just the group stages completed. Upon resumption, the Premier Super Eight and Premier Plate rounds will be contested, though the exact restart date is subject to SLC holding a Special General Meeting, whereby member clubs will be asked to approve certain changes to tournament rules. 

As per the SLC constitution, members need to be given 14 days’ notice ahead of an SGM being held, as such the earliest the season can resume is in the final week of July. Among the tournament rules changes to be discussed will be a reduction in playing days from four to three and the removal of relegation and promotion, according to SLC CEO Ashley De Silva.

“Sometimes the four-day game might become three days,” De Silva told Daily FT. “We also don’t know if the clubs will want to go ahead with promotion and relegation, taking into consideration the disrupted nature of the tournament.”

The Premier League Tier B tournament however will not be resuming as yet, with SLC likely to complete it in the months ahead.

The Tier A tournament will be the first sporting event to take place in Sri Lanka following the easing of curfew measures, and with the national team’s international tours for the year all postponed a host of national players are expected to take part.