![]() | |
Countries | ![]() |
---|---|
Administrator | Sri Lanka Cricket |
Format | Twenty20 |
First edition | 2012 |
Tournament format | Round-robin and knockout |
Number of teams | 7 |
Current champion | Uva Next |
Most successful | Uva Next (1 title) |
Qualification | Champions League Twenty20 |
Most runs | Dilshan Munaweera (212) |
Most wickets | Jacob Oram (15) |
TV | Carlton Sports Network ESPN STAR Cricket |
Website | slpl.lk |
The Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) was a Twenty20 cricket competition in Sri Lanka. It was intended to be the premier Twenty20 league in the country, held by Sri Lanka Cricket, when it replaced the Inter-Provincial Twenty20 competition.
After the 2011 season was postponed, its first season was held in 2012. The 2013 and 2014 seasons were cancelled due to organizational problems and lack of sponsorship. [1] The 2014 Super 4's T20 replaced the tournament.
A new competition called Lanka Premier League was later created and ran its first season in 2020.
In May 2011, Sri Lanka Cricket announced a new franchise-based Twenty20 tournament in the country, modelled on the Indian Premier League. The SLC signed a deal with Somerset Entertainment Ventures to organise the tournament. Seven teams were allocated, each representing a province. [2] [3] Somerset Entertainment Ventures have been given the rights to run the event for 15 years. [4]
The first tournament was to be held at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo between 19 July and 4 August. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India refused to let the 12 Indian players selected in the tournament participate. [5] Furthermore, allegations of corruption and incompetence by SLC and its handing over of the organisation to a previously unheard of Singapore-based Somerset Entertainment Ventures put the tournament in serious jeopardy. [6] The tournament was postponed to 2012, with the former Inter-Provincial Twenty20 taking its place. [7] Sandiip Bhammer of SEV blamed the Indian players' withdrawal for causing sponsors to withdraw from the competition. [8]
In February 2012, SLC signed a renewed deal with Somerset Entertainment Ventures to hold the tournament in August 2012 at Colombo and Kandy, with the seven teams as originally planned. [9] [10] The BCCI said that Indian players in the SLPL was a possibility. [11] The SLPL's partnership with the MCC Spirit of Cricket initiative was similar to the MCC–DLF partnership in the 2008 IPL. [12]
In June 2012, the seven provincial teams were changed to seven franchises, owned by private backers like the IPL and BPL. [13]
The SLPL was officially launched on 16 July 2012 at Cinnamon Grand Colombo in Colombo. SLC Chairman Upali Dharmadasa announced plans to add two more franchises in the following years in other regions. Like the IPL, the SLPL would have cheerleaders and other entertainment, with the official website, mascot, theme song and logo of the SLPL also launched on 16 July. [14]
The 2012 SLPL season was played in Colombo and Kandy from 11 to 31 August 2012. Out of the 24 matches scheduled, 23 took place and one was rained off. Every team played each other in a round-robin system. The top four ranking sides progressed to the knockout stage of semi-finals followed by a final at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Uva Next beat Nagenahira Nagas to become champions. [15]
The second season was set to begin in 2013 but was cancelled after the franchises breached payment deadlines. [16]
The 2014 season was also cancelled, with the announcement in February 2014, citing lack of meaningful sponsorship for the league. [1]
Aside from Nagenahira and Uthura, each of the seven proposed provincial teams had a team playing in the previous Inter-Provincial Twenty20. [17] North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces did not have teams for the first season, planning to be added in future seasons. [18]
In 2012 SLC adopted a franchise system, with the teams coming under private ownership instead of the SLC board. At auction, the seven SLPL teams fetched an average of US$4.3 million, building on a reserve of $3 million each. [19] The franchises were derived from the province-based teams.
SLC chairman Upali Dharmadasa announced in July 2012 the SLPL planned to expand with the addition of two more teams in 2013, with all nine Sri Lankan provinces represented in the league. [20] The 2013 season was cancelled.
Team | Province | Owner(s) [21] | Price [21] | Captain | Head coach | Icon Player [13] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basnahira Cricket Dundee | Western | Indian Cricket Dundee Limited | $4.33 million | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Kandurata Warriors | Central | Number One Sports Consulting Private Limited | $4.98 million | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Nagenahira Nagas | Eastern | Varun Beverages Lanka Private Limited | $3.22 million | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Ruhuna Royals | Southern | Pearl Overseas Limited | $4.6 million | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Uthura Rudras | Northern | Rudra Sports Private Limited | $3.4 million | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Uva Next | Uva | Success Sports Private Limited | $4.6 million | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Wayamba United | North Western | Wadhawan Holdings Private Limited | $5.02 million | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Under the original 2011 system, SLC would have assigned 16-18 players to each team, with five foreign players per team, and a Sri Lankan captain. But after the 2012 franchise system was adopted, a draft was organized and a lottery held to determine the order in which players were picked. SLC determined the value of the contract for each player in advance. The players were seen as likely to be drafted in two groups – Sri Lankan players and foreign players. [13]
Each franchise had an "icon player" and a maximum of 18 players including three under 21 players. Up to two teams in the league could nominate foreign "icon" players, and each team could field up to four foreign players per game. Out of the remaining players in the XI, one must be a Sri Lanka Under-21 international. Each squad had a minimum of seven Sri Lankan players. The 2011 captains were Sanath Jayasuriya (Ruhuna), Mahela Jayawardene (Wayamba), Kumar Sangakkara (Kandurata) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (Basnahira); for Nagenahira and Uthura, Pakistan former captain Shahid Afridi and New Zealand former skipper Daniel Vettori. [22]
Almost all Pakistani national cricketers were invited to play in the SLPL. Salaries were lower than the IPL, with the highest at $30,000, with Shahid Afridi getting $35,000 in 2011. [23] But in 2012 the highest salaries were $100,000 for Chris Gayle and $50,000 for Shahid Afridi.
Year | Final venue | Man of the tournament | Final | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winners | Result | Runners-up | |||
2011 Details | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Event cancelled and replaced with 2011 Inter-Provincial Twenty20. | |||
2012 Details | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | Shaminda Eranga | Uva Next 63 for 1 (5.1 overs) | won by 19 runs (D/L) Scorecard | Nagenahira Nagas 134 for 4 (15 overs) |
2013 | Event cancelled and replaced with Sri Lanka Cricket Super 4's Twenty20 Tournament 2013 |
Team performances:
Team | 2012 |
---|---|
Uva Next | W |
Basnahira Cricket Dundee | GS |
Kandurata Warriors | SF |
Ruhuna Royals | GS |
Nagenahira Nagas | R |
Uthura Rudras | GS |
Wayamba United | SF |
Marketing of the Sri Lanka Premier League was conducted by the Somerset Entertainment Ventures who marketed the tournament with ambassadors, papare bands, theme songs, mascots and cheerleaders. The tournament will also have an opening ceremony. [24] The Premier League was predicted to generate almost 580 million Sri Lankan rupees of annual income for the Sri Lankan economy. Sandeep Bhammer of Somerset Entertainment Ventures said 130 million rupees would come from hotel accommodation. [4]
The SLPL sponsors and partners included Wisden India, Marylebone Cricket Club on the Spirit of Cricket initiative, and YouTube. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. was the title sponsor for SLPL. [25]
Sri Lanka Premier League unveiled a new changed logo at the relaunch of the 2012 tournament.
The SLPL mascot was Silva the lion, who was unveiled by the brand ambassadors, the Sri Lankan musicians duo Bathiya and Santhush. Bathiya and Santhush also composed the official tournament song. [26]
Carlton Sports Network broadcast all matches live in Sri Lanka. SLPL's international broadcast partners were Asian Television Network in Canada, ESPN3 in the United States, United Kingdom and the Caribbean, and ESPN and STAR Sports in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh and Geosuper in Pakistan, as well as other countries in South and South East Asia. SLC president Upali Dharmadasa confirmed on 2 August 2012 that all SLPL matches will also be broadcast to a global audience via the SLPL's official YouTube channel, in the hope of benefiting the tournament through reaching more cricket fans around the world. [26] [27] [28]
Country | Broadcaster(s) | Ref |
---|---|---|
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): Gazi Television | [29] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [29] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [30] |
![]() | Asian Television Network | [26] |
Caribbean | ESPN3 | [26] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [29] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [31] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [30] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [30] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [30] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [30] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [29] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [29] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): GEO Super | [29] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [30] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [30] |
![]() | Satellite/Dish (Free): Gazi Television | [30] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [29] |
![]() | Terrestrial: Carlton Sports Network Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [29] |
![]() | Cable/satellite (pay): STAR Cricket | [30] |
![]() | ESPN3 | [26] |
![]() | ESPN3 | [26] |
Worldwide online broadcast | Internet (free): YouTube (with 10-minute delay) | [29] |
Sri Lanka is one of the twelve nations that take part in Test cricket and one of the six nations that has won a cricket World Cup. Cricket is played at professional, semi-professional and recreational levels in the country and international cricket matches are watched with interest by a large proportion of the population.
Kande Arachchige Isuru Udana Tillakaratna is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who represented Sri Lanka internationally in limited over formats. He currently plays domestic cricket for Tamil Union and Wayamba. Primarily a left arm fast bowler, Udana evolved as an all-rounder in late 2018. On 31 July 2021, Udana announced his retirement from international cricket.
The 2011 Sri Lanka Premier League was a postponed Twenty20 cricket league. It was scheduled as the first edition of the new Twenty20 domestic cricket competition in Sri Lanka, from 19 July to 4 August. It was postponed until 2012, which was held as the 2012 Sri Lanka Premier League, after problems due to allegations of corruption and incompetence by Sri Lanka Cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India had also decided not to allow Indian players to play in the tournament.
SLC Super Provincial Twenty20, earlier known as SLC Inter-Provincial Twenty20, was a Twenty20 domestic Cricket competition in Sri Lanka held by Sri Lanka Cricket. It was one of three Inter-Provincial Cricket tournaments. Sri Lanka used to have a Twenty20 Tournament which was conducted from 2004 to 2008 and was held between the clubs in Sri Lanka. From 2008 to 2011 the Inter-Provincial Twenty20 became the mainstream domestic Twenty20 competition in Sri Lanka. Wayamba elevens has been in all finals and won the first three tournaments, while Ruhuna won the final tournament. It was replaced by the Sri Lanka Premier League in 2012, but later revived in 2016, as Super Fours Provincial T20 Tournament. but it was replaced by the SLC T20 League.
Pathira Vasan Dushmantha Chameera is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays for all three formats for the national team, and plays domestically for Nondescripts Cricket Club. He made his international debut for Sri Lanka in January 2015.
Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis, popularly as Kamindu Mendis, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays for the national team,and for Colombo Cricket Club in domestic cricket.He is an ambidextrous bowler who has bowled both right and left-arm deliveries during the same over.He made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in October 2018.
Shammu Ashan is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He made his List A debut for Sri Lanka A against West Indies A on 27 October 2016. Prior to his List A debut he was part of Sri Lanka's squad for the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Lasith Embuldeniya is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays Test match cricket for Sri Lanka. He made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in February 2019, and plays for Nondescripts Cricket Club in domestic cricket.
Krishan Sanjula is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He made his first-class debut for Sinhalese Sports Club in the 2016–17 Premier League Tournament on 14 February 2017. In December 2017, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He made his Twenty20 debut for Sinhalese Sports Club in the 2018–19 SLC Twenty20 Tournament on 18 February 2019. He made his List A debut for Sinhalese Sports Club in the 2018–19 Premier Limited Overs Tournament on 12 March 2019.
Ashan Randika is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He made his first-class debut for Sri Lanka Army Sports Club in the 2016–17 Premier League Tournament on 14 February 2017. He made his List A debut for Badulla District in the 2016–17 Districts One Day Tournament on 22 March 2017.
Ilandari Dewage Nuwan Thushara is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer currently plays T20Is for the national team. A fast bowler with a slinging action, Thushara made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in February 2022 against Australia. He is a past pupil of Thalawa Kanitu Vidyalaya, Alpitiya.
Muthuthanthirige Nuwanidu Keshawa Fernando, generally known as Nuwanidu Fernando is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays as a top-order batter in all forms of the game. He had his education in St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa. He is the younger brother of Sri Lankan cricketer Vishwa Fernando.
Koralegedera Nadeeja Ashen Bandara, known as Ashen Bandara, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays limited over internationals for Sri Lanka. He made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in March 2021.
The Lanka Premier League is a professional franchise cricket league established in 2020 in Sri Lanka. Matches are played using the Twenty20 cricket format by five teams named after Sri Lankan cities. The league was intended to commence in 2018, but repeatedly postponed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The inaugural edition took place in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pothotuwa Arachchige Dhananjaya Lakshan, popularly as Dhananjaya Lakshan, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer. He made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in June 2021.
Nipun Ransika is a Sri Lankan cricketer. In August 2018, he was named in Kandy's squad for the 2018 SLC T20 League. He made his Twenty20 debut for Kandy in the 2018 SLC T20 League tournament on 22 August 2018. Prior to his T20 debut, he was named the Sri Lankan Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year for 2017. He made his first-class debut for Colts Cricket Club in the 2018–19 Premier League Tournament on 7 February 2019. He made his List A debut for Colts Cricket Club in the 2018–19 Premier Limited Overs Tournament on 4 March 2019.
Sachindu Colombage is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He made his Twenty20 debut for Nondescripts Cricket Club in the 2018–19 SLC Twenty20 Tournament on 19 February 2019. He made his List A debut for Nondescripts Cricket Club in the 2018–19 Premier Limited Overs Tournament on 4 March 2019.
Ashian Daniel is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He made his first-class debut for Nondescripts Cricket Club in the 2019–20 Premier League Tournament on 15 August 2020. Prior to his first-class debut, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He made his Twenty20 debut on 4 March 2021, for Nondescripts Cricket Club in the 2020–21 SLC Twenty20 Tournament. He made his List A debut on 24 March 2021, for Nondescripts Cricket Club in the 2020–21 Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament.
Vijayakanth Viyaskanth is a Sri Lankan cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm leg break bowler. He is a talented leg spinner, who plays for the Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League.He also plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in Indian Premier League.
The 2021 Lanka Premier League also known as Wolf777 News LPL T20, for sponsorship reasons, was the second edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) Twenty20 franchise cricket tournament in Sri Lanka. It took place from 5 to 23 December 2021. There were plans to increase the number of teams from five to six, but Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that five teams would take part, as per the first tournament.