All national stars at the Provincial tournament

Five teams will battle it out in the new look Inter-Provincial cricket tournament scheduled to get underway from December 29. Western Province will have two teams namely Basnahira North and South while the other three will comprise one team from Central, North Central and South. The tournament will be played over 50 overs from the usual three day game that was played during the previous six tournaments.

The cream of cricketers including the national players will be in action and the five teams are being led by household names in the local cricket arena. Chaminda Vaas will lead the Basnahira North team,T.M. Dilshan Basnahira South, Ruhunu will be led by Sanath Jayasuriya, North Central by Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara will lead Central Province.

The matches have been slotted to be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Galle Stadium, SSC and Welegedera Stadium in Kurunegala. Of the ten matches that are scheduled to be played five will be played under floodlights at the R. Premadasa Stadium which will also stage the final on January 13.

The champion team will receive a cash award of Rs2.5 million with the runner-up getting Rs. 1 million. The player of the tournament will receive Rs.100,000/- and the player of the final Rs.50,000/-. Man of the match in the league matches will receive Rs.10,000/-. Apart from that each player including the reserves will get Rs. 6,000/- for a match. The official launching of the tournament will take place on December 29 at 1.00 p.m. which will be followed by the first match between North Central and Basnahira South at 2.30 p.m.