SLC holds Invitation T20 tournament to pick Asia Cup, T20 World Cup squads

With the Lanka Premier League (LPL) being postponed due to the present economic and political crisis in the country, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to hold an Invitation T20 tournament comprising of four teams from 9-16 August.

Originally SLC were planning to use the performances in the LPL to pick the teams for the Asia Cup (T20) and the T20 World Cup, but with the tournament being postponed they had to find another alternative.

This tournament according to Tournament Committee President Samantha Dodanwela will serve as the guideline for selection of the Sri Lanka teams for the Asia Cup (T20) from 27 August to 11 September and the T20 World Cup in Australia from 16 October to 13 November.

“The national selectors will pick 60 players for the four teams comprising 15 players each. The selectors will also consider the performance of the players in the SLC inter-club T20 tournament. The four teams will play a total of three games each excluding the final,” said Dodanwela.

All the matches will be played at the R. Premadasa Stadium with two matches a day, one commencing at 2:30 p.m. and the other at 7 p.m.

SLC conducted a similar Invitation T20 tournament during the height of COVID-19 in August 2021 to select the Sri Lanka team for the 2021 T20 World Cup held in Oman and UAE. 

At the completion of the tournament the SLC Major League 3-day tournament will commence from 19 August and will run till mid-November when the domestic season for 2022 will draw to a close.