Second edition of LPL rescheduled

By Bipin Dani

The second edition of the Lanka Premier (LPL) is set to be rescheduled to November, it is reliably learnt.

According to highly placed sources at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the decision was taken after the organisers had a meeting with the Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa on Thursday morning.

The main reason for rescheduling the tournament, which otherwise was to be held from the end of this month, is due to the non-availability of the few foreign players because of the other leagues to be played elsewhere.

"We are prepared to hire chartered flights for them to bring them over here but because of the hard quarantine rules it would have been not feasible,” a top source, speaking exclusively, said.

The organisers will now have more time to host this tournament in a big way.

It is also learnt that a few team owners were willing to have the tournament in July, however, at least the two team owners preferred the tournament be held at a later stage for better success. One team owner had even indicated its later-date preference by sending a letter.

The formal announcement of the postponement of the tournament is set to be made in the next 24 hours.     

International stars like Sanath Jayasuriya, Virender Sehwag, TM Dilshan are likely to be approached to be ambassadors for this tournament. "We will also approach local hero Lasith Malinga to be associated in some capacity with this tournament", the source further added.