The Premier Domestic Tournament of the island is facing hurdles over an ongoing dispute between a club and Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), Cricket Age exclusively learns.
The tournament is scheduled to begin from December 14, with One dayers are likely to be played first, followed by T20 league and three-day matches.
However, Cricket Age understands that one of the most prominent Galle Cricket Club is mulling over to put up a court case against Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), as the club has not received it’s pending membership payment as yet.
According to sources, SLC is claiming to found some financial irregularities at Galle CC, thus board president Shammi Silva has summoned club official Gajaba Pitigala with accounts. SLC is also claiming that Gajaba was involved in some specious activities during one of the recently concluded series, thus the board is conducting an inquiry.
Galle CC’s, meanwhile, objection is that the club has not received it’s membership grant of 2.5 million, by acknowledging that the SLC, however, has released players fees, match officials payment of 11.5 million.
Another mercantile team MAS Unichela, on the other hand, was demanding for tier B status, as the winner of this year’s Governers Trophy.
“Governors trophy is the division 11 tournament. The winner of the trophy qualifiies to play in the premier tournament. Two years ago champions were Kandy Customs. Last year it was Nugegoda SC.
This year Mas Unichela won the trophy. However, acording to the tournament rules, SLC cannot give a promotion to a club which do not have membership at the Board. Nugegoda is a member,
So they promoted Nugegoda. But Kandy Customs went to courts against it. At that time Customs Chulananda Perera was Sports Ministry secretary. So, he directed SLC to allow Kandy Customs to give promotion. Then SLC asked Customs to close the matter at court and gave them a place with Nugegoda to play in the premier Limited over (not the three day first class).
Now Customs will play this year’s one day tournament. That’s why, now Unichela is also asking for a place in the premier as it has given to Customs” an insider told Cricket Age.
MAS Unichela matter, however, has been settled after team’s official met SLC President Shammi Silva on Monday. It has learnt that during the meeting, Shammi Silva invited MAS Unichela to play domestic T20 league, which it’s officials accepted.
However, on Galle CC matter, SLC is adamant on its stance that the membership grant will be released only after the conclusion of the inquiry, as per the Sports Ministry directive.
