Sri Lanka Premier League
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Administrator | Sri Lanka Cricket |
Format | Twenty20 |
First edition | 2012 |
Tournament format | Round-robin and knockout |
Number of teams | 7 |
Current champion | TBD |
Most successful | TBD |
Qualification | Champions League Twenty20 |
Most runs | TBD |
Most wickets | TBD |
Website | slpl.lk |
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The Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) is the premier Twenty20 cricket competition in Sri Lanka, held by Sri Lanka Cricket. Its first season is to be held in 2012 and it replaced the Inter-Provincial Twenty20.
History
Background
In May 2011, Sri Lanka Cricket announced a new franchise-based Twenty20 tournament in the country, modelled on the Indian Premier League. For this, the SLC signed a deal with Somerset Entertainment Ventures to organise the tournament. Seven teams, each represnting a province, were to take part in the tournament. [1][2] Somerset Entertainment Ventures have been given the rights to run the event for 15 years.[3]
2011 tournament
The first tournament was to be held at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo between July 19 and August 4. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India refused to let its 12 Indian players selected in the tournament from participating.[4] Furthermore, allegations of corruption and incompetence by SLC and its handing over of the organisation to a previously unheard of Singapore-based Somerset Entertainment Ventures put the tournament in serious jeopardy.[5] The tournament was postponed to 2012, with the former Inter-Provincial Twenty20 taking its place.[6]
Sandiip Bhammer, Chairman of Somerset Entertainment Ventures said, "Last year, we had the Indian players coming and they were withdrawn about three to four weeks prior to the tournament launch. As a consequence of that, we were not able to deliver to the sponsors what we had promised." [7]
Re-launch
In February 2012, SLC signed a renewed deal with Somerset Entertainment Ventures to hold the tournament in August 2012. The matches will be held at Colombo and Kandy, with the seven teams as originally planned.[8][9] The BCCI has said that Indian players in the SLPL was a possibility.[10] The SLPL is in partnership with the MCC Spirit of Cricket initiative, similar to that of the one established by MCC and the DLF Indian Premier League in 2008.[11] In June 2012, the tournament went through a major structural change. Instead of the provincial teams, there will be franchises owned by private owners like the IPL and BPL. Seven franchises will take part in the inaugural tournament.[12]
The SLPL was officially launched on 16 July 2012 at Cinnamon Grand hotel in Colombo at an event attended by a host of media personnel and cricketers. Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman Upali Dharmadasa announced plans to add two more franchises in the following years to the league and cricket into all areas of the nation. It was announced that like the Indian Premier League there will be cheerleaders and other entertainment during the tournament. The night also saw the launch of the official website, mascot, theme song and logo of the SLPL.[13]
First season
The 2012 SLPL will be played in Colombo and Kandy from August 10 to 31 and will feature both local and International players. [14]
League organisation
Franchises
The SLPL has undergone significant structural change since 2011. Unlike other cricket leagues, the SLPL will not have city-based teams but instead provincial teams to allow an entire province to associate themselves with a team and thus create a bigger following for the tournament. The first edition of the SLPL will include seven teams from seven provinces. Aside from Nagenahira and Uthura each of these provinces has had a team playing in the previous Inter-Provincial Twenty20.[15] North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces will not have teams for the first season. Teams for all the provinces were limited to ensure competitiveness for the future.[16] In 2012 SLC adopted a franchise system, with the teams coming under private ownership instead of the Sri Lankan cricket board. The SLC would have owned all seven teams had the 2011 tournament gone ahead as planned, but the private commercial interest in owning teams has led the board to change its stance.
The seven SLPL teams auctioned at an average price of US$4.3 million. The reserve price was $3 million each. [17]
Team | Province | Owner(s)[18] | Price[18] | Captain | Head coach | Icon Player[12] |
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Basnahira Cricket Dundee | Western | Indian Cricket Dundee Limited | $4.33 million | ![]() |
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Kandurata Warriors | Central | Number One Sports Consulting Private Limited | $4.98 million | ![]() |
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Nagenahira Nagas | Eastern | Varun Beverages Lanka Private Limited | $3.22 million | ![]() |
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Ruhuna Royals | Southern | Pearl Overseas Limited | $4.6 million | ![]() |
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Uthura Rudras | Northern | Rudra Sports Private Limited | $3.4 million | ![]() |
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Uva Next | Uva | Success Sports Private Limited | $4.6 million | ![]() |
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Wayamba United | North Western | Wadhawan Holdings Private Limited | $5.02 million | ![]() |
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The franchises are derived from the province-based teams used in the Inter-Provincial Cricket tournaments. The franchises are privately-owned like the IPL and BPL. The reserve price of the franchise is $3 million with ownership up to seven years.[12] Those interested in owning teams can be allowed to bid for up to three teams after which the franchises will be distributed to the highest bidders.
Player draft
In June 2012, the tournament went through a major structural change. Given private ownership of the teams, there will now be a draft along the lines of the one held by the National Basketball Association in the United States. In the first year, a lottery will be held to determine the order in which players are picked. SLC will determine the value of the contract for each player in advance and the franchises will be made aware of the cost of the player. The players are likely to be drafted in two groups - the first consisting of players from Sri Lanka and the second all the foreign players. The draft is being seen as the best way to ensure that players are evenly distributed among the teams, making it a level playing field.[12]
Squads
The squads in the SLPL have been given team composition rules, current rule differ from that of the 2011 rules. Under the original 2011 system, SLC would have assigned players to each team. However with the private ownership there is now a draft. For the seven teams each franchise will have an icon player, with a maximum of 18 players, as opposed to the 16 - 18 in 2011. Each team can have six foreign players, up from five in 2011. There will be two foreign players who are also icon players. Teams will be allowed play a maximum of four foreign players per game. Out of the remaining seven players in the XI, one must be a Sri Lanka Under-21 international, out of three under 21 players in each team. Each squad will have a minimum seven Sri Lankan players. In 2011 each squad was to have a Sri Lankan captain, however new captains will be appointed following the new structural changes. For 2011 captains were Sanath Jayasuriya (Ruhuna), Mahela Jayawardene (Wayamba), Kumar Sangakkara (Kandurata) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (Basnahira); for Nagenahira and Uthura, Pakistan former captain Shahid Afridi and New Zealand former skipper Daniel Vettori.[19]
Sri Lankan national selectors and cricket authorities agreed to blood as many youngsters. Almost all Pakistani national cricketers were invited to play in the SLPL. Salaries are have been lower than the IPL, with the highest at $30,000, with Shahid Afridi getting $35,000 in 2011.[20] But in 2012 highest price $100,000 gives to Cris Gayle and Shahid Afridi getting $50,000.
Expansion
The SLPL is planned to expand with the addition of two more teams in 2013. The second season will see all nine Sri Lankan Provinces represented in the league, Sri Lanka Cricket Chairman Upali Dharmadasa announced in July 2012.[21]
Tournament results
Year | Final venue | Man of the tournament | Final | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winners | Result | Runners-up | |||
2011 | R. Premadasa Stadium | Event cancelled and replaced with 2011 Inter-Provincial Twenty20. | |||
2012 | R. Premadasa Stadium | TBA | TBA |
Marketing and broadcasting
Marketing of the Sri Lanka Premier League is being conducted by the Somerset Entertainment Ventures who have been marketing the tournament with ambassadors, papare bands, theme songs, mascots and cheerleaders. The tournament will also have an opening ceremony.[22] The Premier League is predicted to generate almost 580 million Sri Lanka rupees ($4.40 million) of annual income for the Sri Lankan economy. Sandeep Bhammer, chief executive of Somerset Entertainment Ventures said a 130 million rupees will also come from hotel accommodation alone, and will also create employment opportunities.[3]
Logo
Sri Lanka Premier League has changed its logo since 2011 and unveiled a new the current one at the relaunch of the new tournament.
Ambassadors and mascot
The official mascot of the Sri Lanka Premier League is Silva the lion. The mascot was officially unveiled by the brand ambassadors, the Sri Lankan musicians duo Bathiya and Santhush. Bathiya and Santhush also composed the official tournament song.[23]
Sponsors and partnerships
The Sri Lanka Premier League has sponsors and partnerships deals with many online and broadcast partners including Wisden India, Marylebone Cricket Club on the Spirit of Cricket initiative and youtube. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has been chosen as the title sponsor for SLPL.[24]
Broadcasters
Sri Lanka's premier sports broadcaster, Carlton Sports Network will broadcast all matches live in Sri Lanka. The SLPL will be broadcast around the world on Asian Television Network in Canada, ESPN 3 in the United States, United Kingdom and the Caribbean, and ESPN and STAR Sports in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Geosuper in Pakistan, as well as other countries in South and South East Asia. SLC president Upali Dharmadasa confirmed on 2 August, 2012 that all SLPL matches will also be broadcasted to a global audience via the SLPL's official YouTube channel, in the hope of benefiting the tournament through reaching more cricket fans around the world.[25] [26][23]
Statistics and records
See also
References
- ^ Now, Sri Lanka to start IPL-style meet Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 May 2012
- ^ SLPL to kick off in July? Lankan Newspapers. Retrieved 24 May 2012
- ^ a b Jimenez, Tony. "Cricket-New T20 league to give Sri Lanka global reach". Reuters. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ No Indians in SLPL, says BCCI Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 May 2012
- ^ Corruption and incompetence brings Sri Lanka's SLPL T20 tournament to its knees Island Cricket. Retrieved 24 May 2012
- ^ Sri Lanka Premier League postponed to 2012 Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 May 2012
- ^ "'High-quality cricket is focus of SLPL'". Wisden India. 03 August 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Sri Lanka Premier League set for August this year Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 May 2012
- ^ SLPL to be played in Colombo, Pallekele Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 May 2012
- ^ Indian players in SLPL a possibility - BCCI Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 May 2012
- ^ "Sanga launches SLPL in MCC Spirit". Lord's. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d Sri Lanka Premier League adopts franchise model Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 May 2012
- ^ Mannakkara, Dilanka. "SLPL to promote young talent". Dailynews.lk. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ Sri Lanka Premier League to start on August 10 Wisden India. Retrieved 10 May 2012
- ^ Patranobis, Sutirtho (2011-05-12). "Now, Sri Lanka to start IPL-style meet". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2011-07-08.
- ^ "SLPL to add two more provinces later". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
- ^ "SLPL attracts $30 million for 7 teams". Wisden India. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Indian companies among SLPL-franchise owners". CricInfo. ESPN. 2012-06-28. Retrieved 2012-06-29.
- ^ Engineer, Tariq. "Sri Lanka Premier League adopts franchise model". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ "Top players approached for Sri Lankan T20 league". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
- ^ http://www.news360.lk/other/sports/cricket-news-sri-lanka-16-07-2012-slpl-will-get-two-more-teams-from-next-year-%E2%80%93-upali-dharmadasa-889763
- ^ Pinnawala, Chathura. "Sri Lanka Premier League – At what cost?". Island.lk. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "TV deals, mascot: Sri Lankan Premier League set to take off". NDTV. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "Mahindra & Mahindra gets SLPL title sponsorship". Sri Lanka Premier League 2012. The Hindu. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
- ^ http://www.islandcricket.lk/news/srilankacricket/193250802/sri-lanka-premier-league-t20-tournament-to-be-broadcast-on-youtube
- ^ Fernando, Andrew. "SLPL to be broadcast globally on Youtube". Sri Lanka Premier League 2012. Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Fernando, Andrew (2012-08-02). "SLPL to be broadcast globally on Youtube". CricInfo. ESPN. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Nag, Ashoke. "ESPN STAR Sports inks multi-year deal for Sri Lanka Premier League". The Economic times. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
- ^ "ESPN Star Sports to telecast SLPL in India". The Times of India. 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2012-08-02.