COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket has postponed the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League, which was to kick off on August 28, after the island’s nation’s government declared that a 14-day quarantine period for anyone entering the country is compulsory.
The government-enforced protocols put paid to SLC’s hopes that the 70-odd overseas players who had expressed an interest in playing would be a part of the five-franchise event, representing Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna.
SLC is now targeting mid-November, after the Indian Premier League concludes its 2020 edition in the UAE, to host the Twenty20 tournament.
“We had a discussion with the health authorities and the 14-day quarantine period for anyone entering the country is compulsory. So it’s difficult to play the tournament at the end of August,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva told NewsWire.
“We will play the tournament in mid November after IPL.”
The tournament was supposed to be a five-franchise event, representing Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna. The tournament was slated to commence on August 28 and conclude on September 20.
SLC vice-president Ravin Wickramaratne had earlier pointed out that the quarantine rules could be a challenge.
“We are ready to start on the 28th, but there are some areas where we will have to be in line with the health authorities,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Wickramaratne as having then said.
