The Lankan Premier League (LPL) Has Been Given The Green Light By The Sri Lankan Government:
Following Thursday’s discussions with health authorities and the nation’s president, the Lankan Premier League (LPL) was given the green light by the Sri Lankan government. Six days later than currently planned, the tournament is now likely to start on November 27 and will almost certainly be played entirely at Sooriywawewa Stadium.
SLC said it had now obtained approval for less strict quarantine procedures, so far the sticking point for the tournament, as well as for international cricket on the island. Where previous health authorities had insisted that new players will have to spend 14 days in isolated quarantine, players now have to spend just seven days in such a quarantine, after which they will enter the training bubble SLC aims to set up around the LPL.
The new starting date may also allow players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoffs to travel to Sri Lanka for the LPL in mid-November. There are still many LPL franchises on the lookout for foreign talent.
“Some players are coming, even after the PSL, which ends on the 17th,” tournament director Ravin Wickramaratne told a leading media house. “They’ll be here on the 18th or 19th, and a few days before our tournament, they will practise with their teams.” As Sooriyawewa is in a remote part of the island, there is no separate training ground attached to the site, nor is there a ground in the vicinity that can be feasibly used for training. SLC is known to be working to upgrade the floodlights on the practise nets, so teams can train in the evenings there.
However, there was other good news for the LPL. After pulling out in previous weeks over a hamstring injury, which now appears to have healed, Wickramaratne said T20 specialist Andre Russell had again agreed to play the tournament.
SLC is now planning to step on with operational and logistical plans quickly, which could include chartering a flight from Dubai to Mattala airport, which is close to Sooriyawewa.
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