Cricket: ICPL to begin from January 13 in Colombo

The second season of the International Cricket Premier League (ICPL) will begin in Colombo commencing from January 13. Organised by Ali Tours and Travels -- a leading travel company in India, the tournament will see six academy teams vying for the main title. 

The first round matches will be played at the P. Sara Oval while the semi-finals and final will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in the morning sessions on January 19.

The final will be played under lights on January 19 at the same venue followed by the closing ceremony. 

The teams participating are Chilaw Marians, AAN Sports, Ali’s Warriors, Joy Bangla, YCA Bahrain and Banglore Star. 

The tournament will kick off with Chilaw Marians taking on Joy Bangla at 10.00am next Friday at the P. Sara Oval. 

Chilaw Marians will come into the field for the second time in the same day to take on Ali’s Warriors at 2.00pm at the same venue. 

The much awaited second season will witness an intense battle between six teams run by cricket academies in different parts of the world where each team will feature six Under-19 players along with five iconic players from their respective countries. 

The tournament will be played on Twenty20 format where two groups of four teams each competing for the four semi-final spots. 

The tournament was launched at a gala ceremony in Colombo late last year at the Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo with Ali Asfak Thara, the sponsor and main organiser of Ali’s ICPL. 

Ali stated that his main objective in organising the tournament was to provide exposure to future champions. 

"In ICPL, we try to tab the budding talents and expose them to the international pitches as we are confident that this exposure would help them in the future of their cricketing career," he stated. 
Former Sri Lanka cricket captain and current Sri Lanka Cricket National Selection Committee Chairman, Sanath Jayasuriya is the brand ambassador of the tournament in Colombo. 

There will be trophies and cash prizes for the winners and runners-up, man-of-the-match, man-of-the-series, best batsman, best bowler and best fielder. 

A special trophy will also be rewarded to the team deemed to have upheld the spirit of the game at its best in accordance with the game's highest values. 

A core committee of the umpires and the match referee along with the officials of ICPL shall adjudicate the winner of these awards. 

According to the Organising Committee of ICPL eight teams run by Cricket Academies from different countries are expected to compete in the seven-day event scheduled to be held at the P. Sara Oval and R. Premadasa stadiums -- both international venues. 

The tournament schedule 

January 13: Opening Ceremony at 9.00am at P. Sara Oval 

January 13: Chilaw Marians vs Joy Bangla at 10.00am at P. Sara Oval 

January 13: Chilaw Marians vs Ali's Warriors at 2.00pm at P. Sara Oval 

January 13: AAN Sports vs Bangalore Star at 1.30pm at FTZ, Katunayake 

January 14: AAN Sports vs Joy Bangla at 9.30am at P. Sara Oval 

January 14: YCA Bahrain vs Bangalore Star at 1.30pm at P. Sara Oval 

January 15: AAN Sports vs YCA Bahrain at 9.30am at FTZ, Katunayake 

January 15: Bangalore Star vs Joy Bangla at 1.30am at FTZ, Katunayake 

January 16: YCA Bahrain vs Joy Bangla at 9.30am at FTZ, Katunayake 

January 16: Ali's Warriors vs Bangalore Star at 9.30am at P. Sara Oval 

January 16: Ali's Warriors vs YCA Bahrain at 2.00pm at P. Sara Oval 

January 17: Chilaw Marians vs AAN Sports at 9.30am at FTZ, Katunayake 

January 17: Joy Bangla vs Ali's Warriors at 9.30am at P. Sara Oval 

January 17: Chilaw Marians vs Bangalore Star at 2.00pm at P. Sara Oval 

January 18: Chilaw Marians vs YCA Bahrain at 9.30am at R. Premadasa Stadium 

January 18: Ali's Warriors vs AAN Sports at 1.30pm at R. Premadasa Stadium 

January 19: 1st Semi-final at 9.30am at R. Premadasa Stadium 

January 19: 2nd Semi-final at 1.30pm at R. Premadasa Stadium 

January 19: Final at 7.00pm at R. Premadasa Stadium