LPL fast growing in stature

• Auction good eye-opener for everyone says Tournament Director

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

LPL Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela

That the Lanka Premier League (LPL) is fast gaining momentum and making a name for itself was witnessed at the inaugural player auction held on Wednesday.

“The LPL auction went off very well, more than was expected. It was the first time that we did it and everyone commended it. They were very happy how it was handled,” was how the LPL’s Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela described the auction.

“This is the first time in a franchise league auction that the media was invited. Why they were invited was for them to actually see exactly what is happening and also to show how transparent it is. We also invited a representative from the ICC and they sent their second in command of the Anti-Corruption Unit Steve Richardson who was present for the auction.”

Dodanwela, a tea taster by profession said that he always believed that to sell a product the best system is the auction.

“You create competition amongst people to get the value for the product. The LPL auction is also something like that, we were selling a product, a player. It clearly showed that some of the players whose base prices were $ 10,000 or $ 20,000 ended up getting $ 40,000, $ 50,000, and $ 60,000. One player whose base price was $ 20,000 went up to a record $ 92,000. That’s the competition that you create. It’s a good eye-opener for everyone because being in the tea auction I know how it works. This was something that I really wanted to do and I am happy that I was able to do it.”

“The last three years the LPL has picked their players on the Player Draft where there is no competition amongst the buyers. Here it is not that. The top players were picked on a P signing at a Premium price which means their places are secured. With our support the franchises contact the players through their agent and fix a price. Each of the five teams secured their two overseas and two Sri Lankan players before the auction,” Dodanwela said.

“For the first time we have got some big players like Babar Azam for instance. By bringing them the enthusiasm and interest of the public also goes up. With some of the big names in cricket coming in the tournament is gaining momentum and recognition. Players are keeping faith and confidence in the league which is the most important thing because during the same period the US League is taking place where they spend a lot of money. Then there is a Canadian League and also the Caribbean League. For the players to come and play for us rather than play for them is something special. The Caribbean League will be starting halfway through the LPL so some of the players will be available only for half the tournament.”

Dodanwela said that for the first time players will be allowed to review wide and no-ball decisions using DRS. The modification to the DRS was first used in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and was implemented in the recently concluded IPL.

The modified DRS states: “A player may request a review of any decision taken by the on-field umpires concerning whether or not a batter is dismissed, with the exception of ‘Timed Out’ (Player Review). A player may also be allowed to review any decision taken by on-field umpires concerning wide or no-ball.”

The fourth edition of the LPL is due to commence on 31 July with the participation of five teams. It will conclude with the final on 22 August with a reserve day for the final.

The tournament will be played at two venues the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy.