NSL 4-day tournament has served its purpose says TC Chairman

• Semi-finals today at SSC and R Premadasa Stadium

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq 

Tournament Committee Chairman Samantha Dodanwela

Nishan Madushka is a glowing example of domestic performance being given due recognition

This year’s National Super League 4-day tournament maybe sans several national cricketers who were either away playing franchise cricket overseas or were picked to represent Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the unofficial tests and ODI series against England Lions, but in the view of Sri Lanka Cricket Tournament Committee Chairman Samantha Dodanwela it has in some way served its purpose.

The tournament has reached its knockout phase with the semi-finals commencing today at two venues. Table toppers Galle will meet fourth placed Kandy at the R. Premadasa Stadium, while second placed Dambulla will take on third placed Jaffna at the SSC grounds.

Dodanwela was not of the view that the tournament shorn off its superstars had lost its sheen, but said the cricket played was competitive and that it has helped unearth new talent which would not have surfaced had the national cricketers been available.

“If you say most of the national players were away playing franchise cricket, except for three players most of the others are white ball cricketers who had gone and played. Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva and Niroshan Dickwella were the only three players who play red ball cricket, therefore it didn’t matter,” Dodanwela told Daily FT.

“The way I look at it, this tournament has basically identified a lot of young players. There have been so many players who have done well in the league whom we have not heard of which is something good. They have performed in the NSL 4-day so they should be given recognition, not to play them in the national team, but some sort of recognition to say that they are in the limelight. We are looking at them as our future players. From that point I think the tournament has been successful.

“The objective should be to see new players performing and showcasing their talent, not to see national cricketers doing well. The absence of national players from the tournament has been a blessing in disguise for the younger cricketers to perform and show what they are capable of. The whole purpose of playing this tournament is to identify new talent for the future.

“For example that boy from Ragama CC (Nishan Madushka) who scored heavily in the domestic season and then against England Lions shows there are talented players the selectors have to keep a very close eye on. He didn’t play in the NSL 4-day because from the Major Club League where he scored over 1000 runs he went straight into the Sri Lanka ‘A’ side and then got selected to go to New Zealand. He is a glowing example of performance being given due recognition.”

Dodanwela said the tournament was timed to give the national cricketers some sort of practice with red ball cricket because they had not played any red ball cricket for almost eight months. “Last year we started off with the limited overs, but this year we decided to start with the four-day tournament in order to give every opportunity of playing red ball cricket before the New Zealand tour.”

“One of the main objectives of this tournament is to see how long the players can sustain their time in the middle. From these matches the selectors and coaches will realise what the downfall is. Four-day games were over in three days that shows we are not geared to play long innings. That is why we should continue to play this four-day format.”

“This year we kept a lot of grass on the wickets mainly to ensure the national players get proper match practice before the New Zealand tour. The fast bowlers have taken wickets and the spinners also. At all the venues there was a fair amount of grass on the wickets. What we wanted was to have seaming tracks.”

Being the top most tournament in the domestic calendar where performances will lead to national Test selections, Dodanwela revealed that each player earns Rs. 110,000 per match along with per diem and they are provided with clothing and put up at five-star hotels.

The tournament is also the richest in prize money with Rs. 5 million being awarded to the winning team, Rs. 2.5 million to the runner-up team and individual prize money of Rs. 750,000 to the Player of the Tournament and Rs. 250,000 each to the Best Batsman and Best Bowler of the tournament.