Super T20 tournament begins; Colombo take on Galle in opener

By Madushka Balasuriya

Provincial pride will be at stake today as Colombo and Galle are set to square off this morning at the R. Premadasa Stadium in the opening game of Super T20 Provincial Tournament 2016.

The tournament, which also includes teams from Kandy, Kurunegala and Hambantota, is the first phase of the newly-created Elite Championship and will take place from 26 January - 5 February 2016. 

The Elite Championship, which was announced last November, sees five regionally-based teams - Colombo Commandos, Kandy Crusaders, Galle Guardians, Hambantota Troopers, and Kurunegala Rangers - compete in three city-based tournaments, and will take place alongside the club-based premier tournaments in the 2015-2016 season.

All the matches in the Super T20 Provincial Tournament, which will be overseen by Tournament Director Jayantha Paranathala, will take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. There will be seven match days in total, with four rest days; two matches will be played on each match day - one in the morning, one in the evening - with a separate day being allocated for the final. The five teams will compete in an initial round robin stage with the top four sides qualifying for the semi finals. The morning matches will begin at 10am, while the evening day fixtures start at 2pm. The final, which is being televised, will be a day/night game and get underway at 7pm.

Newly-elected Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Vice Chairman K. Mathivanan, who has been put in charge of overseeing a domestic cricket revival in the country, said he hopes the tournament will give club players the opportunity to make the step up on to the national stage.

“This is a pathway for club players to go up the ladder and represent Sri Lanka Cricket. In addition, SLC has given certain guidelines to national and provincial selectors regarding our criteria with regard to selection policies.”

SLC Chairman Thilanga Sumathipala meanwhile gave assurances that performances in the Super T20 would be given serious consideration and not overlooked, as may have been in the past, when the squads for the Asia Cup and the World T20 are being selected.

“If you’re between the ages of 18 and 38 you will be considered. Age is no barrier. We’re trying to change the system that was in place in previous years, where domestic performances were sometimes ignored. If you’re good enough you will play. We are looking for players who are in form, that is the most important thing,” explained Sumathipala.

He also revealed that selection committees have been formed in each of the five provinces taking part and that the heads of those committees would be members of the national selection committee, so as to ensure that each player is given a fair shot.

“We only have five teams competing, which means that the best of the best are competing with each other. About 60 of the best national players are going to be taking part. And we strongly believe that, as a result, at least one outstanding player from the club level will be picked at the end of this tournament,” added the SLC President.

There will be a total prize pool of nearly Rs. 2.5 million. The Champions will win Rs. 1 million while the Runner Up will get a cheque of Rs. 750,000. Over the course of the 12 matches leading up to the final, each Man of the Match will get Rs. 25,000, while the Man of the Final will take home Rs. 50,000. The Man of the Tournament meanwhile will get Rs. 150,000. There are also prizes for the tournaments best batsman and bowler, with each getting a cheque of Rs. 100,000.