da casino： Next week, the Sri Lankan cricket board will unveil a new-look first-classtournament, which they hope will revitalise domestic cricket in Sri Lanka
Charlie Austin24-Sep-2001Next week, the Sri Lankan cricket board will unveil a new-look first-classtournament, which they hope will revitalise domestic cricket in Sri Lanka. STAGE ONE – QUALIFICATIONSuper GroupNCCBRCCOLTSSSCSuper Group teams play each otherTeams in group ‘A’ or ‘B’ play other teams in their respective groupsTop three in each group qualify for super leagueGroup ACCCPanadura SCSebastianites C&ACGalle CCAir Force SCRagama CCGroup BTamil Union C & ACBloomfield C&ACMoors SCAntonians SCKurunagala YCCChilaw Marians CCSTAGE TWO – SUPER LEAGUE
Super LeagueNCCBRCCOLTSSSCGroup A -1Group A -2Group A -3Group B -1Group B -2Group B -3Teams only play sides that they have not played beforePoints gained against sides played in first round are carried throughTop four qualify for semi finals
STAGE THREE – FINAL STAGESSemi FinalNumber 1 v Number 4Number 2 v Number 3FinalWinner SF 1 v Winner SF 2The board, though, has stopped short of introducing the two-divisionstructure championed by some, in favour of a hybrid format that balances thetwin objectives of increasing competitiveness and protecting the health ofoutstation clubs.According to Sidath Wettimuny, Interim Committee member with overallresponsibility for cricketing matters, the clubs, who had been considered apotential barrier to change, have “enthusiastically accepted” the blueprint.The future of the Premier League has long been the source of intense debate.Last year 18 teams and 404 players participated in the tournament. Matcheswere too frequently one-sided, low-key affairs that failed to adequatelyprepare players for the harsher, high-pressure environs of internationalcricket.This year the number of teams has been trimmed to 16 and the competition hasbeen spilt into three separate stages: a first round in which teams seekqualification for a Super League, a ten-team Super League from which the topfour teams proceed to a semi-final and then final.The top four sides in last years tournament – NCC, BRC, Colts, SSC – form a”Super Group” that automatically qualify for the Super League. The remainingtwelve teams are spilt into two groups of six. Each team play the others inits group and the top three in each qualify for the Super League.Whilst the qualification process is in full swing the four “Super Group”teams play each other, the result and points from which they then carrythrough to the Super League. Qualifiers will also carry through the pointsgained against their fellow group members, who they will not play again inthe Super League itself.The new format means that the best teams (the Super Group) will no longerplay hopelessly one-sided matches against the weakest teams. Excluding thesemi-finals and final the “Super Group” sides will play nine matches and theother Super League qualifiers will play 11 compared to the 12-15 played lastyear.It is hoped that the introduction of a knockout finale will further increasethe competitiveness of Super League by keeping all the teams in the huntright up to the end.Crucially, the matches are being also being scheduled to ensure theparticipation of the Sri Lankan national players. The first stage will startat the end October and finish before the West Indies and Zimbabwe tour,during which time the clubs will play the Premier League Limited OversTournament. When the Asian Test Championship is completed (early February)the Super League will commence.Wettimuny, speaking to CricInfo, said: “We wanted to play less matches andmake those more meaningful. The better teams will now play the better sidesand there will be a maximum of 11 matches.”With the introduction of the semi-final and final clubs will be in the raceright up until the end which will ensure that at the end of the day thechances are that you will have the rightful winner.”The format will be criticised in some quarters for being overly complicated.The simpler option would appear to have been two divisions with eight sides,which would reduce the amount of cricket even more. This, though, would bepolitically unacceptable to the clubs.Wettimuny argued: “We can’t afford to reduce the number of sides at thisstage. We would kill cricket in the outstations unless we combined some ofthe clubs. You must remember that out top players are now coming from theseareas.”Indeed, the health of outstation cricket is considered so vital that thecricket board has been trying to persuade the clubs to accept a radicalplayer re-distribution plan.The board has proposed that it centrally contract high profiles players, whowill then play for some of the lesser-known clubs in the outstation areas.It is hoped that this would stimulate greater interest in the clubs, arrestthe present migration of talent into Colombo and, ultimately, increase thecompetitiveness of the outstation clubs and the tournament itself.Although apparently acceptable to the players themselves, who would anywaybe selectively contracted to clubs close to their family roots, the clubshave voiced concerns and the plan is likely to be postponed until next year.Wettimuny remained realistic: “We have now, at least, have come up with agood tournament. They are other things to be done, but we have to take itone step at a time.”According to Wettimuny the new tournament is also commercially moreattractive. The BCCSL is already speaking to potential sponsors and tointerested television broadcasters about a daily highlights programme.In truth, further change is needed to the Premier League, such as animprovement in the pitches, practice facilities, greater financial supportfor the non-international players. There is no doubt, however, that theproposed changes represent an important step forward.