SLC introduces new guidelines to enhance domestic cricket

The second half of the domestic season begins with the Major Inter-Club T20 on 27 May

• Overseas players representing clubs should be first-class cricketers
• Payment to players should be transferred online to the individual

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The second half of the 2023 domestic cricket season is due to commence from 27 May with the Major Inter-Club T20 tournament, and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has taken several steps to enhance the domestic structure by bringing in new guidelines.

Most pertinent of them is the registration of overseas players representing the clubs. Unlike in the past SLC requires overseas players signing up with clubs to have played first-class cricket. Each club is entitled to sign up two overseas players for the season.

“I have made it mandatory that all overseas players who come to play in Sri Lanka have to be first-class players. We are bringing overseas players to enhance the quality of cricket in the country. By bringing them we are depriving 44 local players from taking part. If the clubs are going to bring mediocre cricketers for the sake of playing, there is no purpose,” said Tournament Committee Chairman Samantha Dodanwela.

“This year nobody can play if they have not played any first-class cricket. The clubs have been informed that when they are registering overseas players to check their credentials and attach their career stats and the link. In the past, there have been instances where overseas players paid the club to come and play in Sri Lanka because they have not played any first-class cricket before. They are coming to Sri Lanka to get first-class status and qualify themselves to go and play in other countries. I got to know that and that is why I put my foot down and stopped it. Some club officials don’t like it but we are here to see cricket doing well. If you don’t take certain decisions we will never improve our cricket. I am doing this for the betterment of Sri Lanka cricket.”

Another guideline which SLC has put in place is the payments made to players by the respective clubs. Through grants given by SLC the clubs are paying the players a substantial amount - minimum Rs. 15,000 per day for a 3-day match and Rs. 10,000 for a one-day limited-over match.

“We have made it mandatory that all these payments should be transferred online to the player’s account, and payment slips have to be forwarded to the SLC,” said Dodanwela. “That way the clubs cannot wait without paying and submit bogus receipts. Online payment came into effect last year. My main goal is to look after the players. Player payment is a must. We should understand that all the money we get from the ICC is because of the players, not because of the officials. We have to accept that fact.”

After a short break the domestic cricket matches are due to commence with the Major Club T20 tournament which will run from 27 May till 11 June. Following the relegation of four teams from last season, 22 teams will compete in the tournament in four groups.

This tournament will be followed by the Major Club 3-day league which is due to commence on 16 June with the participation of 22 clubs in two groups. The tournament will run for six weeks till 23 July before it breaks off to make way for the fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) which will take place from 30 July to 20 August. The Major Club 3-day league will recommence a week after the LPL final and run till 10 September.

It will be followed by the Major League Limited-Over tournament in October after which the domestic season for 2023 will come to a conclusion.

Despite the economic crisis and the political upheaval the country has gone through in recent years, SLC has managed to conduct all its domestic tournaments without any interruption, which speaks highly of the commitment made by the sports body’s officials.

Another step which the SLC is likely to take is to safeguard their international venues from being overused for domestic club and school matches.

“I have given a proposal to SLC to try to avoid playing at international venues where Sri Lanka Cricket has ownership,” said Dodanwela. “Floodlit venues like the R Premadasa Stadium, Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota, Rangiri Dambulla Stadium and Pallekele Cricket Stadium in Kandy to curtail club matches being played there. When grounds are given for all sorts of club and school matches the wear and tear is very high, that is why the wickets have become very slow. At least the international venues which are owned by SLC have to be safeguarded.”

The eventuality of the Asia Cup being played in Sri Lanka, Dodanwela said it will not affect the domestic program as long as the international venues are avoided. 

“The Asia Cup, if it takes place in Sri Lanka, all the matches will be day-night affairs and they will be played at venues that have floodlights. Therefore, I don’t think it will affect the domestic matches. Everywhere the domestic tournaments go on as scheduled whether international matches are played or not. These countries don’t go by the international calendar and therefore the domestic calendar is not interrupted.”