SLC writes to Health Ministry to recommence domestic cricket

SLC CEO Ashley de Silva

SLC Tournament Committee Chairman Bandula de Silva

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) yesterday wrote to the Ministry of Health as well as to the Sports Ministry Medical Unit seeking permission to recommence their domestic cricket which was halted on 7 October following the emergence of the new COVID-19 cluster.

SLC officials were due to meet the health officials yesterday but they have, however, wanted something in writing.

“We have written to the Health Ministry as well as the Sports Ministry Medical Unit, giving our plan seeking their approval to complete the semi-finals and final of the SLC Major Youth (Under-23) tournament and to commence the Major Club T20 on 22 October the matches of which all will be played on the grounds arranged by SLC,” said SLC Tournament Committee Chairman Bandula de Silva.

“We told them that the matches are all going to be played on the grounds arranged by SLC where we can enforce the guidelines the Health Ministry has given and because of that asked for permission to play these matches,” he said.

“We have stated that we can follow the health guidelines like we did in completing the previous tournament successfully – the Major Clubs Super Eight and the Major Club League Plate second round matches. We have cited that and asked for permission. They have said that they will come back to us on Monday. There is a good chance that they might ask us to be a little bit more stringent with the guidelines and play. That is the Government policy also. I am a bit optimistic, so let’s see Monday,” Dissanayake added

SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, whilst confirming sending the letters to the relevant authorities, said: “We are seeking their approval because they have also asked not to have public gatherings and all that. These players will have to at least start training for about three to four days before they can recommence the tournament. With the current situation, we have to assess every day because things keep on changing. We have to assess and see whether the conditions are conducive enough for us to play cricket. In the meantime, we want to get the Health Ministry approval as well for the moment to play domestic cricket but moving forward, we will have to look at playing the LPL (Lanka Premier League) as well.”

LPL player draft on 19 October

Soon after the completion of the semi-finals and final of the Major League Youth Under-23 tournament the Major Clubs T20 is due to take place from 22 October to 8 November, after which the LPL is scheduled from 21 November.

“After the Major Clubs T20, the LPL has been scheduled but let’s see how it goes. We have to get separate permission from the Health Ministry because it involves overseas players,” said de Silva.

He confirmed that the player draft will take place as scheduled on Monday (19 October).

Women’s cricket head coach

SLC will take a call on whether to enlist a local or foreign head coach for the Sri Lanka Women’s cricket team.

“On an interim basis, we have appointed a coach (Lanka de Silva) but we have also advertised for the head coach’s position. We are hoping to fill that up by 1 January,” said de Silva.

“We have not taken a decision whether it is a foreign or local coach. We will first look at the applicants and then take a decision,” he said.

Harsha de Silva was the last head coach appointed to the position, and his two-year contract was not renewed when it expired in August this year.