Overseas flavour in ongoing Major Limited Overs tournament

England’s Moeen Ali and Nick Compton have benefitted playing domestic cricket in Sri Lanka

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The ongoing SLC Major Limited Overs tournament has eight overseas cricketers representing different clubs, highlighting that it is not only the Lanka Premier League (LPL) that is capable of attracting foreign talent.

Second in Group B, Ace Capital CC has 21-year-old all-rounder from Singapore Janak Prakash playing for them, while third placed Chilaw Marians CC has two Indians in their side – 24-year-old Ameer Zeeshan and 27-year-old Jay Pande – both right-handed batsmen. Badureliya SC, also from the same group, has the services of Saly Samson, a right-hand bat, and Arjun Shetty, a left-hand bat, both from India aged 30.     

From Group A, Negombo CC is served by Mohammad Mohsin, a 25-year-old bowling all-rounder from Pakistan, while BRC has an Englishman from Warwickshire in 20-year old Dan Mousley, who bats left-hand and bowls off-breaks, and 29-year-old left-hand bat Hitesh Solanki from India.

Tournament Committee Chairman Samantha Dodanwela said: “Earlier we said we cannot allow any foreign players but now the technical advisory committee is of the view that we should allow two players so that the competition will be more competitive. Each club can have a maximum of two overseas players.”

Opening the door for overseas players to come and play in Sri Lanka’s domestic competition has been there for some time with several players having made use of the opportunity over the years.

“Some foreign players, more than money, want to come and explore the subcontinent wickets, that’s the main idea,” said Dodanwela. “Even players like Moeen Ali came mainly because of that. When he was knocking at the door, he knew that he had to get used to the turning tracks, so he immediately came and played here, likewise there are others who want to come and play.”

Moeen came in the 2011-12 season and represented Moors SC in the Premier League playing three matches and scoring 335 runs (avg. 67.00) with a high score of 157 against SSC at Moors SC grounds. He also took three wickets with his offbreaks, which at the time was occasionally used. Two years later he broke into the England Test and ODI sides. Similarly, another English Test cricketer Nick Compton, the grandson of the famous England batsman Denis Compton, played for Sri Lanka Ports Authority in the 2017-18 season. His Limited Over match for SLPC against SSC at SSC on March 14, 2008, was his final appearance in competitive cricket. That season saw 11 overseas players representing various local clubs in the domestic circuit.

“If a player has the vision to enhance his career we should give him the opportunity,” said Dodanwela.

An England Under 19 World Cup player, Dan Mousley who is playing for BRC could turn out to be one of them for England in the future. He made his first-class debut for Warwickshire in the English county championships at the age of 18 and his experience playing on subcontinent pitches should stand him in good stead for the future.

Meanwhile many of the leading clubs playing in the ongoing Major Limited Over tournament have been hit not only by the inclement weather but by calls for national duty. SSC for instance is fielding a virtual second-string side having lost at least nine of their players. White-ball captain Dasun Shanaka and Charith Asalanka are representing Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup in UAE, while players like Sammu Ashan, Kalana Perera and Himesh Ramanayake are with the Sri Lanka ‘A’ squad playing against Pakistan ‘A’ in Pallekele.   

“If you take the SSC, we don’t want to have any foreign players because we want to give the local players to perform, otherwise we are depriving two local players from gaining that experience,” said Dodanwela, a member of the SSC Executive Committee. “Most of the other clubs are keen to get overseas players. The clubs have found sponsors and they are able to pay the overseas cricketers.

“My main idea this year is to ensure the players are given the opportunity of playing cricket and displaying their capabilities. That’s all I need for this year so we are not worried about relegation and promotion as nothing will happen this year. Let these guys get the opportunity to play good cricket.”

The three Major Limited Overs matches scheduled for yesterday all ended without a single ball being bowled due to rain.