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Sri Lankan cricket re-announce their T20 premier league posted under: Sri Lanka | All news |
After much debate over the topic if cricket fans would appreciate another T20 league, Sri Lanka re-announced their own premier league. Following an agreement between the Sri Lanka cricket board and Singapore based Somerset Ventures, the Sri Lankan premiere league might just become a reality soon.
Last year, the Sri Lankan cricket board had to back out of the potential money-spinner over doubts if they had the potential to manage and host a tournament of this magnitude on their own merit. Every other large scale tournament that Sri Lanka has held (1996 and 2011 cricket World cup tournaments have been in technical and financial association with the Indian and Pakistani cricket boards.)
However, in August this year, Sri Lanka is set to host its own version of Twenty20 league level cricket. What does this move mean for world cricket? For one it gives young and hitherto upcoming cricketers an opportunity to bring themselves to the fore. That apart, it gives Sri Lanka cricket a chance to be one amongst the money spinning boards in world cricket.
This brings us to the next question. Does the average cricket fan need another cricket league? The benefits of having various leagues has an immediate and more apparent benefit for cricketers who look for more bigger, better opportunities all the time, How does the average Joe cricketer stand to gain?
Namely, cricketers get yet another chance to prove their mettle and an option to strengthen their stardom furthermore.
The Sri Lanka Premiere League is to be held between August 10 to 15, just before the Twenty20 World Cup (also scheduled for August.) The tournament was previously scheduled for July 2012 but had to be postponed due to the BCCI deciding not to permit Indian players to participate. The BCCI has refused to allow its players to participate in the tournament, fearing sheen being taken of its own IPL. However, they do not acknowledge the fact that it gives young Indian talent the chance to play on and understand Sri Lankan wickets ahead of the T20 World Cup 2012.
Now, with the tournament scheduled to begin in August, the Sri Lanka Premiere League committee hopes to be able to lobby with the BCCI and convince it to let Indian players participate. The BCCI has raised concerns over complications and disputes arising over payments and contracts. According to rumours, another reason for the BCCI’s refusal was the fact that former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi is backing the Sri Lankan cricket league.
The format of the game remains the same as the IPL, except there would be lesser teams and lesser internationally acclaimed players.
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