The player draft of the second Sri
Lanka Premier League (SLPL) season is scheduled for July 14 in Colombo
and is expected to contain several international players, including a
strong South African contingent, according to the league's chief
executive officer, Ajith Jayasekara. The league is scheduled between
August 10 and September 7.
"We have the entire South African squad
with the exception of Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis lined up to take
part," Jayasekara said. "Pakistan has also shown their intention to send
their present lot of cricketers but the participation of most of their
key players depends on whether their tour to Zimbabwe takes place."
South Africa are due to tour Sri Lanka
from July 20 to August 6 for five ODIs and three T20s and there is a
possibility that members of the visiting team will stay back to
participate in the league.
"With the exception of England and
India, players from all the other Test-playing nations have shown
interest in participating in the league," Jayasekara said. "Even a top
performer like Chris Gayle has expressed his intention to take part once
the Caribbean Premier League ends on August 24."
Other West Indian players like fast
bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor, as well as Australians such as
Doug Bollinger, Brad Hodge and Shaun Tait are among those who are
expected to participate. The list also includes Mushfiqur Rahim, the
Bangladesh captain. Jayasekara also said the franchises would reveal the
list of players they are releasing by July 8.
The draft rules allow a franchise to
pick a minimum of 19 and a maximum of 25 players. If they stick to 19
players, the franchises have to pick seven international cricketers,
nine domestic cricketers and three under-21 cricketers. If the squad
comprises 25 members, the numbers change to 10, 11 and four
respectively.
Last season, 56 international players, mostly from Australia and Pakistan, and 90 local players were drafted in the league.
Like last season, officials of the ICC's
Anti-Corruption and Security Unit will monitor all matches of the
second season of the SLPL. SLC is also looking to increase the number
of venues this season an order to take the matches to the provinces that
are being represented in the tournament. The matches are scheduled in
Hambantota, Galle, Dambulla and Kurunegala, apart from the R Premadasa
Stadium in Colombo and Pallekele stadium in Kandy. Jayasekera said the
SLC was also exploring the possibility of hosting matches at Moratuwa
and Matara.
The number of teams participating in the
league this year is the same as last season: Uva Next (defending
champions), Nagenahira Nagas (runner-up), Kandurata Warriors and Wayamba
United (losing semi-finalists), Ruhuna Royals, Uthura Rudras and
Basnahira Cricket Dundee.
Source: www.news.lk
Sri Lankan Off Spinner Sachithra Senanayake has returned to the island after ten days of remedial work with human movement expert Darryl Foster at the University of Western Australia.
