SLC initiate a four-team inter-provincial tournament

The standards of the Sri Lankan cricket team have depreciated alarmingly after their stalwarts have retired from international cricket. There are a very few options available for the board and the selectors are forced to select players from these few options. Furthermore, the competition in the first-class cricket decreased forcing the Sri Lankan Cricket Board (SLC) to take a drastic step.

After strong public opinion about lack of competitiveness in first-class cricket, the board has introduced a four-team Inter-Provincial tournament that will get underway later this month. The board believes that this will help increase the competition among the players as only the best of the lot will be selected for these teams.

Inter-provincial tournament recommended by the legends

A committee comprising former captains Anura Tennekoon, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara had recommended the Inter-Provincial tournament. This decision came at the back of poor competition in the current first-class cricket structure. The present system consists of an Inter-Club tournament comprising 24 teams.

As Sri Lankan cricket hit new lows in 2017, observers blamed SLC’s decision to award ten lower division clubs first-class status for bringing down the standard of domestic cricket. Currently, 24 clubs enjoy the first-class status. However, the Inter-Provincial tournament comprising only four teams and the best players in the country is expected to raise the standards.

Next season, one more province will be added to the competition and teams will play home and away games. This season the four teams will play their opponents once and then the top two teams will progress to the finals. Mohan de Silva, the vice-president of SLC opined that highly competitive cricket was the need of the hour.

“A highly competitive tournament is the need of the hour. This structure will bring in competitiveness to domestic cricket and we expect high-quality cricket. We have implemented the suggestions of the committee comprising former captains that looked into the grievances of domestic cricket,” he told Cricbuzz.

The tournament, which gets underway on March 30, will include all four-day fixtures, with some of them being Day-Night affairs and involving the pink ball. Katunayake, Dambulla, and Hambantota will be the three venues. SLC has also taken steps to include Sri Lanka’s Under-19 players for the event.Veteran Chamara Silva (38) and Tharanga Paranavithana (35) will also feature in the competition. All-rounder Thisara Perera, who has not played first-class cricket for more than four years will also play the tournament. Perera was requested to resume playing first-class cricket by Sri Lankan head coach Chandika Hathurusingha in order to make certain improvements to his game.

Squads:

Colombo: Dinesh Chandimal (Captain), Dhananjaya de Silva (Vice-Capt), Kaushal Silva, Shehan Jayasuriya, Lahiru Thirimanne, Primosh Perera, Chamara Silva, Angelo Perera, Lasith Abeyratne, L.U. Ihalagamage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Thisara Perera, Lasith Ambuldeniya, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, K. Anjula, Kamindu Mendis and Nipun Malinga.

Charith Senanayake (Manager), Avishka Gunawardena (Coach).

Galle: Suranga Lakmal (Captain), Dasun Shanaka (Vice-Capt), Lahiru Milantha, Rumesh Buddika, Pabasara Waduge, S. Ashan, Oshada Fernando, Roshen Silva, P.C. de Silva, J. Liyanage, Lakshitha Madushan, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Akila Dananjaya, Madhawa Warnapura, Mohomed Dilshad, Upul Tharanga, Malinda Pushpakumara, Nisala Tharaka, Nishan Peiries, Dananjaya Lakshan and Ashen Bandara.

Waruna Waragoda (Manager), Hashan Tillakaratne (Coach).

Kandy: Angelo Mathews (Captain), Niroshan Dickwella (V-Capt), Pathum Nissanka, Priyamal Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asela Gunaratne, Tharanga Paranavitana, Minod Bhanuka, Chamara Kapugedera, Chamika Karunaratne, Jeewan Mendis, Lahiru Kumara, Ramesh Mendis, Mahela Udawatte, Sachith Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Samarakoon, Jehan Daniel and Hasitha Boyagoda

Malinda Warnapura (Manager), Piyal Wijethunga (Coach).

Dambulla: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Kusal Janith Perera (V-Capt), Nipun Karunanayake, Milinda Siriwardana, Kusal Mendis, K.T.H. Ratnayake, Sachithra Serasinghe, Lahiru Gamage, Sangeet Cooray, Ashan Priyanjan, Rangana Herath, Ishan Jayaratne, Chanaka Komasaru, Asitha Fernando, Jeffery Vandersay, Sachithra Senanayake, Shehan Madushanka, Himesh Ramanayake, Rasmika Dilshan, Nishan Mathushka.

Vinothen John (Manager), Sumithra Warnakulasuriya (Coach)