Cricket back on track as SLC gets green light to complete Youth U-23 tournament

Cricket is back on track with the SLC Major Youth Under-23 knockout matches 

• Dates set for semi-finals and final—27 and 29 October

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Cricket is back on track following the emergence of the new COVID-19 cluster, after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) yesterday got the green light to complete the Major Youth Under-23 semi-finals and final.

The tournament was halted on 7 October, the day the semi-finals were to be played, following the current COVID-19 outbreak.

“We got the okay yesterday to finish the Under-23 tournament, so we are playing the two semi-finals on 27 October and the final on 29 October,” said SLC Tournament Committee Chairman Bandula Dissanayake.

“The venue for the Lankan CC and Colts semi-final game remains the same at the NCC grounds, but the other semi-final between SSC and Badureliya CC has been shifted to the P. Sara Oval from the CCC as the CCC ground is under construction. The final will take place on 29 October at SSC,” he said.

“They have given us some strict guidelines so we are going to follow them. We have no word yet from the health authorities with regard to the rest of the domestic tournaments. We will have to finish this and get back to them again,” Dissanayake added.

The Major Club T20 tournament is due to start on 22 October, followed by the Lanka Premier League.

One of the reasons used by SLC is that the matches are played on grounds under the control of SLC and any health guidelines given to them could be implemented. 

The other point SLC had raised is that permission was given to the Army to play the inaugural Army Commander’s T20 league cricket tournament; thus asking why couldn’t the SLC get the green light and facilities to conduct the Youth U-23 tournament.