SLC to revamp domestic tournaments focusing quality
Under the previous system introduced in 2021 by the then Technical Advisory Committee led by Aravinda de Silva, all 26 domestic clubs were granted first-class status, with the expectation that this number would decrease to 15 by the end of the 2024/2025 season.
Samantha Dodanwela
However, at an Extraordinary General Meeting held recently, members agreed to reduce the number of first-class clubs to 12. These will participate in the Major Club Tier ‘A’ tournament, while the remainder will compete in the Tier ‘B’ tournament without first-class status. The bottom-ranked team in Tier ‘A’ will be relegated to Tier ‘B’ at the end of the season, while the winner of Tier ‘B’ will be promoted to Tier ‘A’.
The relegation process began in 2022, with four teams being demoted to Tier ‘B’, followed by another four in 2023. Currently, 18 clubs compete in the Major Clubs tournament and, according to Samantha Dodanwela, the Tournament Director, an additional four clubs will be relegated this season and two more in the following year to finalise the 12-team tournament.
“The main idea of relegation is to ensure and enhance the quality of club cricket. When you reduce the numbers, the competition among players will be higher and that will help enhance the quality of cricket at club level,” explained Dodanwela, who floated the idea to SLC.
“I was very pleased with the clubs for agreeing to this proposal as this was done for the betterment of Sri Lanka cricket. It was passed at the EGM and approved by the Executive Committee. The proposal was circulated and if the membership had any objections, it should have been brought up at the EGM, but they unanimously agreed,” Dodanwela said.
The rationale behind relegation is to elevate the quality of club cricket by intensifying competition among players. Dodanwela emphasised the unanimity among clubs in approving this proposal, highlighting its significance for the advancement of Sri Lankan cricket.
The structure of Sri Lanka’s first-class cricket has been a subject of discussion among former cricketers, prompting the board to reconsider the existing setup. In addition to the Major Club tournament, Sri Lanka has introduced a five-team Inter-Provincial tournament, considered the premier first-class competition in the country.
SLC has also enforced a ban on foreign players participating in domestic seasons. Dodanwela justified this decision by noting that most foreign players signed were of mediocre quality, depriving local players of opportunities for development and advancement.
“Most of the foreign players signing here are mediocre players and that doesn’t serve any purpose. We have enough and more players and they are being deprived of the opportunity,” said Dodanwela.
“A couple of clubs opposed the move, but we were firm on the decision, and we said no overseas players in future.”
Furthermore, the Tournament Committee has opted not to schedule matches during the rainy season from September to mid-November. This decision aims to minimise disruptions caused by monsoon rains, prioritising the National Super League (NSL) over club tournaments during this period.
“We’re essentially instituting a break of about two and a half months from September to mid-November, during which cricket activities will be suspended due to the monsoon. Historically, the Major Club tournament has frequently been disrupted by rain during this period, leading us to prioritise the National Super League (NSL) instead,” explained Dodanwela.
“The consensus among our membership is that clubs serve as the primary platform for nurturing and promoting players to the national team. Consequently, following discussions with national selectors and committees, it was agreed to reschedule the NSL. The club season will kick off in mid-November and run through February, after which the NSL will commence.”
Additionally, the domestic season has reverted to overlapping two years, with the present season being 2024-25. This adjustment aligns the season with the financial year, ensuring consistency in scheduling and organisation.