Premier League to go ahead despite appeal by Badureliya
View(s):Badureliya Sports Club, one of the clubs that competes in the domestic Premier cricket competition, have made an appeal to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to reconsider the time frame or postpone the upcoming Premier club tournament. As reason, the President of Badureliya SC, Sumith Perera, has highlighted many facts, out of which unavailability of players comes as one of the core reasons.
The Sri Lanka national team will be engaged in a bilateral series against Australia at home in all three formats – Tests, ODIs and T20Is — during the period, which also is the window of the English County season. Over 150 local cricketers will be in England during May, June and July playing county cricket in England at different levels, raising a question if SLC’s decision and timing to hold the Premier 3-day, Limited Over and T20 competitions, is perfect.
Perera also has made written appeals to all concerned parties that are involved in structuring and planning domestic cricket competitions, as well as the Minister of Sports, but he said that so far none have responded to his pleas.
“I really do not understand the decision of the officials and committees involved in domestic cricket tournaments. We have played a lot of competitions and it’s not a matter of aborting or calling off the upcoming season. My argument is just why haven’t they considered about other competitions happening in which Sri Lankans players will be involved in. The quality of cricket will certainly deteriorate,” Perera said.
SLC’s National Super League 2022 and the Major Club Emerging tournaments are currently underway and the upcoming tournament will see all top clubs and players getting involved. However the three months of May, June and July, majority of local cricketers will be in England, where fees for a match at times is larger than what they are paid here for the entire tournament.
Most other clubs have nodded their heads and have not objected as Badureliya SC, who keeps on fighting to get the upcoming competitions rescheduled. SLC is adamant that the tournaments should take place as planned.
“As a club official, I have also have to think about the financial wellbeing of my players. Not everyone gets the opportunity to play in domestic competitions in other parts of the world, especially county cricket. Also not everyone will get the opportunity to represent the country with the current available number of players here,” he added.
However, SLC is stern about their decision to go ahead with the upcoming tournament.
“We are actually trying to discourage them (players) from going,” said Samantha Dodanwela, Chairman Tournament Organising Committee.
“We understand they travel overseas to earn a bit of money. But I think if your dream is to play for Sri Lanka you should play the domestic tournament. We are working on duly compensating them”.
SLC has paid its domestic cricketers substantially this season. For an instance, a player gets Rs. 40,000 per one-day match and Rs 110,000 for a four-day game in the National Super League.
“We are spending huge amount of money this time to conduct these tournaments as we are compensating them well this time unlike before. As a former player I understand the player sentiments and this is why we have increased payments substantially this year. A player can make around Rs. 2.5 million if one plays the entire season,” Dodanwala, a former first class cricketer said.
He said postponing the tournament is not an option they would consider.
“I heard there are about 70 players who will be traveling overseas and I want them to play at least seven matches of our tournament. Anyway, they are required to play at least five domestic games each season to be eligible for domestic cricket in England,” he explained.
Sumith Perera is, however, contemplating on seeking legal assistance to somehow push the competition to another window.
“How can any club enter a tournament without players, sometimes they could be the key playmakers. It’s got nothing to do with challenging decisions made by SLC and its tournament committee, but when there are clashed, the administration should reconsider their stance. With no proper response from anyone so far, we might even think about taking the matter to the courts as a ably. Failing all, we will have no other option than to take part in the tournament, which will be anyway without most players and proper quality,” stated Perera.