Following a cordial discussions between the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi and Health Ministry officials on Wednesday, the much awaited Lanka Premier League (LPL) has boosted it’s chances to be held in the country itself, with yet another revised schedule, Cricket Age reliably learns.
“We had a very fruitful meeting with health minister and other officials. The ministry will be issuing a media statement regarding the LPL tomorrow. The tournament will be played in Sri Lanka itself, with change in dates” a top SLC official told Cricket Age.
The SLC always wanted to play the tournament on the island. However, the 14-day quarantine that Sri Lanka’s health ministry is insisting on, increasingly appeared a deal breaker for some foreign players, as well as an operational obstacle for broadcast crews and commentators set to come for the tournament. Having repeatedly cancelled previous iterations of the tournament, SLC is desperate to make it happen this year.
Meanwhile, Innovative Production Group (IPG), who are promoting the LPL, recently said they were prepared to host the tournament within health guidelines once the Health Ministry gives the go ahead.
“IPG also states that all required procedures related to the players, team owners and broadcast partners are finalized and awaits certain procedural clearings before it can be made public. Some announcements have been delayed due to state-called closure of banks and government institutions because of the current Covid-19 scenario in Sri Lanka,” IPG said in a statement.
Sri Lanka last played a series against West Indies in February and all their international assignments so far have been put off due to the global viral outbreak which has had a drastic impact on cricket board’s finances.
