LPL-4 was the best of the best

The R. Premadasa Stadium was packed to near capacity with 25,000 spectators attending the final 

• Overseas players appraise it second best to IPL

LPL Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Lanka Premier League (LPL) fourth edition was undoubtedly the best conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) so far and the feedback that Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela received from all quarters goes to confirm it.

“I am actually pleased and happy and I should also say that I am proud that I have been able to take this league to a different level,” Dodanwela told Daily FT. “The feedback that I got from the coaches and the managers – they were saying that all the overseas players were thrilled, and they said that next to the IPL it was the best league that they had played. Even a player like David Miller had said that this league is very competitive.”

“It was the most successful tournament probably in the history of Sri Lanka cricket. The feedback that I received from all over was fantastic. I had a very good team to work with. Some of the permanent staff members who were involved in the team gave 100%. We all worked 24/7. It’s a commitment. When you have unity, you work as a team. Already there are top companies both overseas and local in touch with me. They are really keen to come forward next year. It’s a very good sign.”  

Dodanwela agreed that the Player auction that was held for the first time made the tournament very competitive.

“Absolutely no two words about it. When I wanted to do the auction there were a lot of reservations from people. They were scared, but I know the auction system very well (being in the tea trade). All the teams managed to get their best combination. We also gave 20 players and in addition four more so that every franchise owner had the opportunity of picking their player. Unlike having a draft and picking a player merely on luck. That was the main reason to have a very competitive tournament.”

Talking of the challenges he faced Dodanwela said: “This time it was very much better than the last three years, but our window was very small. We had only 20 days to conduct 24 matches. That was the only hiccup and the tightness that we had. The players said that it was a bit strenuous playing back-to-back games. Kandy had to play three games in a row (there were several injuries to Kandy). T20 cricket has more intensity than 50-over ODI cricket. You have to be competitive throughout the 20 overs. 

“When you have five teams, one team will have to face that situation unless we have a bigger window. We are working with a very limited window and the number of days, that’s the issue we had. Other than that, everything went on very well. The Kandy leg was very good. Good wickets we had scores of over 180 and going upto 200 plus and the crowd was also good.”

“Coming back to Colombo because of the Asia Cup and just before the LPL the Emerging Asia Cup we had to preserve some of the wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium. So, the wickets that we got on either side of the centre pitches were a bit slow and it also started taking a bit of turn. Those are the difficulties that I had. With all those obstacles and challenges we were able to conduct a very good tournament. I believe it is the best tournament so far. Even at international matches we never had such a big crowd, almost 25,000 spectators.”

With regard to having a sixth team in the tournament for next year Dodanwela stated: “For that, there are a few other matters that have to be looked at. Number one is we should have a proper window, at least 30 days. When you add another team, we will have more games. Of course, you will give opportunities for more local players; another 15 or 20 will come into the system, but it will dilute the tournament. We must make these five teams more competitive and stronger and then look at the sixth team, not next year, maybe the following year.”

Dodanwela said that the LPL needs to have a permanent slot in the calendar. “Our window should be July-August, but not any other months. We will write to all the other cricket boards and inform them about it. We have to extend the LPL by at least a week (27 days).”

Next year the LPL hopes to introduce the Review System for Wides and No-Balls.  

“This year we were thinking of implementing it but at the last moment we had to pull out because the setting was not right. It has to come through the broadcasters and although at the last moment they said they can, we didn’t want to take the chance. Next year we will have that review system for no balls and wides,” Dodanwela said. The system is in use in the IPL.