Lanka Premier League promises new brand of cricket

Thursday, 5 September 2013 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Semi-hard ball cricket to uncover talent from around the country

Cricket is unquestionably a national obsession; whether it is the national team winning the World Cup or the youth playing in the streets, the game of cricket is woven into the very fabric of Sri Lankan society. However, there is a wide gap between the skill level of those youth playing in the streets and the players of the national cricket team and it is a factor which discourages many talented players from aspiring to reach the highest level.

The introduction of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) to Sri Lankan cricketers and enthusiasts will fill this need for an intermediary between casual softball cricket and the game played with the leather hard ball at professional levels. The preliminary matches of the first ever LPL tournament kicked off in April around the country, with the finals scheduled to be held 3-6 October 2013 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium under the patronage of Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella. Based on an entirely new concept, the LPL matches will feature two innings of eight overs each with each team fielding eight players. Moreover, the most unique aspect of the LPL games is the use of the semi-hard ball, which is a hybrid of the regular soft tennis ball and the leather hard ball used in professional matches. LPL consists of 12 teams from around the country including teams from Jaffna, Kuliyapitiya, Anuradhapura and Bandarawela. These 10 member teams are made up of the best softball players who have shined in regional and provincial tournaments and are looking for a new challenge and a chance to display their talents to a wider audience. Lanka Premier League is the brainchild of Nishantha Hettiarachchige and John Daran, two entrepreneurs and long time friends who have been playing cricket together for the last 25 years. The enterprising duo envisions LPL opening many doors for the pool of talented cricketers around the country. Commenting on the brand new cricketing league, Hettiarachchige said: “Like so many Sri Lankans, we have been playing cricket since we were young and as adults, we realised the need for a league which would facilitate the transition of amateurs into professional hardball cricket. LPL was born out of our desire to provide a platform for aspiring cricketers around the country who do not have the opportunity to showcase their abilities due to the high cost of resources and the consequent limited accessibility.” “All LPL games are played with a semi-hard ball, which is named ‘Tuff’ and was pioneered in Sri Lanka,” explained Daran. “This variation enables players to employ proper cricketing technique when playing, and gives them a chance to improve their bowling variations and cricketing shots to fit the professional arena.” Furthermore, the weight and nature of the ‘Tuff’ semi-hard ball ensures that the physical harm caused on contact is far less than from a leather cricket ball, making it ideal for females aspiring to play professional cricket, an area which needs increased support and encouragement. “There are a multitude of extremely talented cricketers in the country, and all of them begin playing using the soft ball,” said Thilina Thushara, Sri Lanka national cricketer and member of LPL’s Arangala Nawarella team. “However, many of them never make it to the next level of cricket as the transition from casual soft ball cricket to the professional level of playing with the leather hard ball is difficult. LPL gives them the perfect opportunity to demonstrate their talents in conditions which emulate the setting of a professional cricket match, while making it far more accessible.” Teams will commence their bid for the first ever LPL title on 3 October at the Pallekele International Stadium, with matches played during the day as well as under floodlights.