Reports dismissed on foreign players’ exclusion

SLC committee to meet T20 league organisers.

COLOMBO:

Reports regarding the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) going ahead without the participation of foreign players, which include 17 Pakistani cricketers, were dismissed by Sidath Wettimuny, a member of the new interim committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), according to ESPNcricinfo.

Reports suggested that hefty fees demanded by foreign players was the cause for exclusion. Wettimuny also dismissed speculation that the tournament is going to be postponed. However, he confirmed that the committee will be meeting with Somerset Entertainment Ventures, the organisers of the SLPL, in order to decide how to go ahead with the event.

“We haven’t yet met the organisers,” said Wettimuny. “The meeting is scheduled for Friday.”

However, given that the SLPL’s first game is set for July 19, SLC would only have 11 days after Friday’s meeting to organise the event.

The change in administration is the latest setback for the SLPL.





Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2011.