Invitational T20 League arranged upon Head Coach and Selectors’ request - SLC

By Amindha de Alwis

The ongoing SLC Invitational T20 League, which was arranged following the postponement of the third edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), came about as a result of a discussion between the Sri Lanka Cricket Tournament Committee, Head Coach Chris Silverwood, and the National Selection Committee, according to Chairman of the SLC Tournament Committee Samantha Dodanwela.

“The selectors and Head Coach had a discussion with the Tournament Committee and wanted us to arrange or organise an invitation T20 Tournament. So, we thought that is the best opportunity to allow the players to display their capabilities in order to get national representation. This will also give the selectors an opportunity to pick the best combination for the Asia Cup and also the ICC T20 World Cup,” he shared.
The four-team tournament which commenced on Monday, will see the teams play three matches each, followed by a final versus the top two sides. All matches will be contested at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
National T20I Captain Dasun Shanaka leads the SLC Greens, while Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis are in charge of the SLC Blues and Reds respectively. 

A fourth team, SLC Greys, which is led by Ashan Priyanjan, has also been selected specifically to provide an opportunity to players outside the main national squads who have impressed at domestic level in recent months.
“The fourth team (SLC Greys) will consist with all the top players who did well during the limited-over T20 Club tournament. So, we have given the opportunity to all those players who are not in the major national squads to come and perform and show their capabilities.” 

“In that team you don’t get any player that has been selected in the emerging, Sri Lanka ‘A’, or national side players who are contracted with SLC. These are all raw guys who have been playing cricket but not come to a level where the selectors have picked them to any of those squads,” Dodanwela said.
SLC Greens Captain Shanaka remarked that the tournament provides a good opportunity for newer players to make an impression, while giving the national players much needed game time before the upcoming Asia Cup.
“The expectation from a tournament like this is to discover new players as well as to have the national team players get into good form. This is a big opportunity for those seeking to get into the national team, and also it gives the opportunity for the public to see what these players are capable of,” Shanaka said. Meanwhile, SLC has settled on December 6 to 23 as the new timeframe for the LPL which was postponed due to the economic situation being faced in the country.

“I am happy to say we have finalised dates for the LPL which will start from December 6 with the final on December 23.We have not decided the venues yet but we are looking at playing the games in Colombo, Pallekele and Hambantota,” Dodanwela said.