The virtual players auction for the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) ambitious Lanka Premier League (LPL) Will be held on October 1, as scheduled earlier, Cricket Age reliably learns. As per the SLC, 270 foreign players will go under the hammer, including some big names of T20 cricket around the globe.
The tournament is slated to be played from November 14 to December 6, featuring five teams, named after the cities of Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna.
Some of the prominent cricketers who are set to take part in the LPL are Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Darren Bravo, Ravi Bopara, Colin Munro and Vernon Philander with each franchise getting a chance to sign up to six international players. Six Indian players, including Munaf Patel and Praveen Kumar, are also likely to take part in the League.
“We had sent an email to foreign players and their agents, asking for their confirmation while accepting government’s 14-day quarantine period. We have received the confirmation of the majority of players and on that basis the player draft will take place on October 1” a top SLC official told Cricket Age.
It has also learned that three LPL teams – Kandy, Jaffna and Galle – have already been sold, while at least 6 parties have shown their interest in buying remaining two teams – Colombo and Dambulla.
However, SLC is aware that the Health Ministry’s insistence of a 14-day quarantine period for those participating in the LPL could result in several top international players opting out.
“Expecting players like Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi and Shakib Al Hasan to come and spend two weeks in quarantine is too much to ask for. We are very much aware of this fact, but we are clear that even if board doesn’t make any profit in the first edition, its fine. The important thing is our young domestic players will be getting a chance to play along with international players” the official added.
