MCA Premier League on the road
View(s):
At the presentation ceremony (from left) Manager, Singer Sri Lanka, K.D.S. Kanishka, Marketing Director Singer Sri Lanka, Kumar Samarasinghe, Senior Promotions President /MCA, Niran Mahawatte, General Secretary /MCA, Nalin Wickremasinghe and Chairman, Tournament Committee/MCA, Sujeewa de Silva
It is a shiny silver landmark for Singer Sri Lanka PLC, as the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) is set to conduct its 25th Singer –MCA Premier League 2018.
After extensive discussions, the MCA Tournament Committee had managed to get a window from Sri Lanka Cricket to conduct its ‘league’, the ‘knock-out’ and the ‘T+20′ during the months of September and October 2017.
SLC will not hold any of their tournaments during this period, thus making room for all the Premier Club players to play for their firms without any hindrance.
Sri Lanka Cricket, whilst extending their blessings to the MCA, has gone the extra mile by donating 180 white balls (Grays of Cambridge Pakistan ‘Cavalier’) towards the ‘league’ stage matches, thus giving the participating teams a considerable relief.
The number of participating teams have gone up from seven to ten this time, with three new firms, namely-LB Finance, Kanrich Finance and Hayleys Group joining the big league.
The league stage, consisting 45 matches will get underway, this week-end (depending on weather) and will conclude on September 27.
At the conclusion, the top team in the table of points will be the ‘League’ winner.
The ‘Knock-out’ that will follow with the same teams, consisting nine matches will take place between September 30 and October 21 (Final)
Finally, the T+20 on a knock-out, consisting nine matches will take place between October 25 and October 29 (Final)
Special Awards:
Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Man of the Series and the Emerging Player for the ‘league’ segment.
Man of the Match of the ‘Knock-out’ segment. Best Batsman, Best Bowler, Man of the Final of the T+20 segment.
The League Player of the Series will receive the traditional Singer 32 inch LED Colour TV (since 2000). The previous winner was Dhanushka Gunatilaka from MAS Unichela.
The ‘Emerging Player’, who will be picked by the Match Referees recommendations after each league game, will receive the MCA two weeks, all inclusive Scholarship to the prestigious Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy in South Australia.
The three previous winners of this ‘Star’ award were – Dimuth Karunaratne from John Keells, Chathuranga de Silva from Commercial Credit & Finance and Lahiru Milantha from John Keells.
The Official Sponsorship presentation cum Media Conference was held on Thursday, September 7 at the MCA Fine Dining Restaurant. - LR
The Teams
MAS Intimates Unichela (2017 League and Knock-out winner and T+20 runner-up) led by T.M. Dilshan
Commercial Credit & Finance PLC (Knock out runners-up and T+20 winner) led by Upul Tharanga
Sampath Bank, led by Kaushal Silva John Keells Group , led by Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Hatton National Bank, led by Sajeewa Weerakoon
Tee-Jay Lanka (formally Textured Jersey ) led by Suranga Lakmal
DIMO, led by Nisala Tharaka Gamage.
Kanrich Finance, led by Alankara Asanka
Hayleys Group, led by Promodth Fernando.
LB Finance, led by Lakshan Rodrigo