First post-COVID-19 competitive sport to take place from 14 July

Sri Lanka Cricket Tournament Committee Chairman Bandula Dissanayake (left) with CEO Ashley de Alwis at the media briefing

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Following the COVID-19 shutdown from March where sports activities around the world came to a virtual standstill, cricket on the domestic front is set to resume from 14 July thus marking the first competitive sports event to take place in this country.

“Everything is in place to resume the Premier Super Eight and Premier Tier B tournaments on 14 July and we hope to complete by 4 August before the General Elections,” said Sri Lanka Cricket Tournament Committee Chairman Bandula Dissanayake.

On 16 March following the conclusion of the group stage fixtures the Tournament Committee was forced to postpone the tournament due to the pandemic. But now with the country gradually regaining to normalcy Sri Lanka Cricket with the help of the Ministry of Sports and the health authorities have received the green light to play cricket.

“Sri Lanka Cricket has arranged all the venues and everything for the matches which will be played on neutral grounds. We have booked the grounds and we are complying with the health regulations,” said Dissanayake.

SLC will make use of seven venues to complete their matches – five in Colombo and the other two in Katunayake and Surrey Village, Maggona.  

“There are a few things we have to do to get the clearance from the health authorities to make use of the grounds and we are attending to that. Everything should be in place by 14 July,” Dissanayake said.

Reiterating further the Tournament Committee Chairman said: “With regard to guidelines for the players and officials we had two sessions with the Sports Ministry doctors where specific instructions were given on how to behave, how to use the dressing rooms and things like that. The club coaches were asked to attend the sessions.”

“Bowlers will not be allowed to apply anything on the ball like saliva or sweat but they can rub the ball on their flannels. There will be no high-fives or hugs on the field and the players cannot hand over their personal belongings to the umpires. These are some of the regulations that will be in place when the matches resume,” said Dissanayake.

He said that spectators will not be allowed inside the venues to witness the matches.

Sri Lanka Cricket is bringing the curtain down on the 2019-20 domestic season with these matches.  

“We are trying to close the season with the Premier Super Eight and Tier B Plate matches. The Tier B promotion and relegation matches we are not going to apply this year and the Governor’s trophy (previously Sara trophy played for Division II) will not be continued. The Division III tournament is also still at district level and we have asked them to stop it for the season and start afresh in December,” Dissanayake said.

The draw for the final round of matches was finalised yesterday.