Sri Lanka Premier League postponed to 2012

The Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) has been postponed to August 2012 after facing a series of problems, including the unexpected withdrawal of Indian players from the tournament. In its place Sri Lanka Cricket, the league's owners, will conduct the regular inter-provincial Twenty20 tournament featuring five domestic sides without involving foreign players.

An official announcement is awaited, though South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs, one of the overseas players linked with the tournament, told this website that he'd been informed of the one-year deferral.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the decision to postpone the league - which was scheduled to start on July 19 - was taken on Thursday at a meeting between the SLC's new committee and Somerset Entertainment Ventures, the league's organisers. Given the BCCI's decision not to let Indian players participate and the time crunch, both parties felt it prudent to delay the launch. A four-week window in August 2012 was identified as the best time for the tournament; meanwhile the SLC will continue to lobby the BCCI for Indian participation.

The BCCI had withheld its permission on the grounds that Somerset, which owned the commercial rights, would be handling the contracts for international players and that could lead to complications should disputes arise over payments. In order to assuage the Indian board, SLC was willing to back the Indian players' contracts so that their financial interests were protected, but that was not enough to satisfy the BCCI. There have been suggestions that former IPL chairman Lalit Modi had a hand in the event, but SLC and Somerset have repeatedly denied the allegation, as has Modi.

The BCCI's decision meant the tournament did not have a broadcaster for the lucrative Indian market, a situation that made it much more difficult for the SLPL to find a secure financial footing. Adding to the sense of confusion was last week's dissolution of the SLC committee that had created the tournament, and its replacement by a new panel.

The Indian board's stand - which marked a U-turn of sorts after an initial green signal - was contrary to that of the boards of Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan, all of whom extended their support to the tournament. Tim May, the chief executive of Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), had also backed the event.

Tariq Engineer is a senior sub-editor at Cricinfo

 Feeds: Tariq Engineer

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

SLPL future to be decided on Friday

Sri Lanka Cricket's new interim committee will meet with Somerset Entertainment Ventures on Friday to discuss the future of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL). The previous committee, which created the tournament, was dissolved last week by Sri Lanka's sports ministry and a new panel was appointed in its place. ESPNcricinfo understands that the new committee is still getting up to speed on the tournament and will decide how to go ahead with it once they have met Somerset.

"We have not yet met the SLPL organisers," Sidath Wettimuny, one of the members of the new committee, told ESPNcricinfo. "The meeting is scheduled on Friday." Wettimuny also denied rumours that the tournament had been postponed or that it would go ahead with only Sri Lankan players.

The change in administration so close to the launch of the tournament is the latest setback for the SLPL, which has already been hit by the BCCI's refusal to allow Indian players to take part. The BCCI had withheld its permission on the grounds that Somerset, which owns the commercial rights, would be handling the contracts for international players and that could lead to complications should disputes arise over payments. In order to assuage the Indian board, SLC was willing to back the Indian players' contracts so that their financial interests were protected, but that was not enough to satisfy the BCCI. The Indian board has also claimed that former IPL chairman Lalit Modi had a hand in the event, but SLC and Somerset have repeatedly denied the allegation, as has Modi.

The BCCI's decision means the tournament does not have a broadcaster for the lucrative Indian market, a situation that makes it much more difficult for the SLPL to find a secure financial footing, something that the new committee will have to consider.

One potential incentive for holding the tournament as scheduled is the Champions League T20 in September. The winner of the SLPL receives a spot in that tournament and since Sri Lanka host Australia in August and September, July is the only available window before the CLT20. However, given that the SLPL's first game is set for July 19th, SLC would have only 11 days after Friday's meeting to organise the event, including putting in place security for the players and the anti-corruption measures required by the ICC.

Tariq Engineer is a senior sub-editor; Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

 Feeds: Tariq Engineer

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Weeks before SLPL T20, Sri Lankan players in the dark over tournament

With 13 days left for the start of the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) T20 tournament, participating cricketers remain clueless about the tournament.

Wayamba all-rounder Farveez Maharoof, who is currently in England playing for Lancashire, is unsure if he should book a flight back to Sri Lanka, due to the uncertainty surrounding the SLPL tournament.

“If it doesn’t happen, then I will stay here,” Maharoof told the Manchester Evening News.

“They still haven’t decided on the teams yet.

“It is frustrating. I generally plan ahead for the summer, but at the moment I don’t know whether to book my air ticket or not,” he added.

Somerset Entertainment Ventures (SEV) in Singapore, which refers to itself as the marketing arm of the tournament, has done such a poor job of marketing and promoting the event that many are left wondering if the tournament is still going to be held as planned.

SEV, a company founded only last year, was handed the contract to organise the event by the former Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee, under chairman Somachandra de Silva and secretary Nishantha Ranatunga. The interim committee has since been dissolved by the country’s sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, amid allegations of financial mismanagement and fraud.

Last month, India barred its players from taking part in the tournament, citing SEV’s involvement in the signing of player contracts as the reason. Today, a source close to the cash-strapped SLC told the international news agency AFP that the tournament is likely to drop all foreign players, as the home board struggles to recuperate after the devastating financial crisis the previous interim committee has left it in.

The tournament has also failed to secure an international broadcaster.

The chief operating officer of SEV Kunal Bhargava failed to respond to queries from Island Cricket regarding the tournament.

The SLPL tournament is scheduled to get underway on July 19.

© Island Cricket

Sri Lankan Premier League to go ahead without India

 Sri Lanka Cricket will push ahead with its inaugural premier league with Australian and Pakistani players, despite a no-show by Indian stars, the island's sports minister said Sunday.

"We will lose a bit of money because Indian players are not coming but the tournament will be played as planned," Mahindananda Aluthgamage said after failed talks to bring the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on board.

Fast bowlers Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel were among 12 Indian players who were blocked by the BCCI from playing in the T20 tournament in Sri Lanka from July 19 to August 4.

More Pakistani players for SLPL T20 league 2011

Sri Lankan Cricket stung by the refusal of the Indian cricket authorities to release their players for next month's Sri Lankan Premier League T20 tournament have started to rope in more Pakistani cricketers for the event.

According to details, SLC is regularly seeking clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to sign on Pakistani players after the BCCI refused to give permission to 12 of its

Sources said that former captains -- Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan, Shahid Afridi -- are now among the Pakistani cricketers who have signed contracts with the SLC for the league that starts from July 19.

The other Pakistani players included are allrounder Abdul Razzaq, national team discards Fawad Alam and Shahzaib Hasan, upcoming batsman Asad Shafiq and opener Ahmed Shehzad.

Fast bowler Mohammad Irfan is also been roped in, while Umar Gul is said to have been given a contract as well.

A PCB official said it had no issues allowing its players to go and play in the league as it meant extra earnings for them.

The official also said that while the players were being paid a fixed amount by the Sri Lankan board they would earn more when franchises sign them up.

Indian sports minister asked to resolve SLPL deadlock

    The Sri Lanka sports minister has written to his Indian counterpart asking him to intervene in the dispute over releasing Indian players for the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL), according to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chairman Somachandra de Silva. Officials from the two countries' cricket boards met in Hong Kong, on the sidelines of the ICC conference, on Tuesday to discuss the issue again but were unable to make any progress.

    "We had a discussion with the BCCI asking them to release the players," de Silva told ESPNcricinfo. "Earlier they had sent a letter signed by Mr Srinivasan, the secretary of the BCCI, saying they are going to release the players for our tournament. So now that they have changed their minds and for that we are very sad and disappointed. Even our sports minister has written to their [India's] sports minister to try and intervene and solve this issue."

   de Silva said the BCCI were adamant that they could not release the players because of the involvement of Somerset Entertainment Ventures (SEV), a private company which won the marketing rights for the SLPL, but that explanation was confusing because IMG, a private company, is involved in the IPL.

   "What they are saying is there is another party involved. There is no logic. What about the IPL tournament? There is another party involved - IMG. What is IMG doing with IPL?"

     de Silva said he was mystified by the BCCI's stand because the two boards had a good relationship, and SLC were only asking for second-string Indian players while Sri Lanka had sent their national team to England without some of their top players because of the IPL.

    "Even our captain didn't go on tour with the team. The captain went after that. So I sincerely hope the Indian cricket board will think about it again and release these players. This is not a long tournament. It is only 16 days. Not like the IPL, which is 51 days. I can't see the reason." Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin and Praveen Kumar are among the dozen Indian players reportedly signed up by the SLPL.

de Silva added that the standoff has not affected the relationship between the two countries but he was disappointed by the situation. "As the chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket, I am sad about the whole situation. Because our relationship is so good and so I don't know why they have refused their second-string players.

"I sincerely hope that Shashank [Manohar] will go back and speak to their committee and reverse the decision."

   The Sri Lankan sports minister had said last week that the BCCI had informed him that it didn't want Indian players in the tournament because the former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi was involved with it. Modi has denied having any links with the SLPL, something which SEV reiterated through a statement on Tuesday.

   "Contrary to recent news/media reports, SEV would like to point out emphatically that Mr. Lalit Modi has no stake or involvement whatsoever in SEV, either directly or indirectly, and has nothing to do with the SLPL or any tournaments of SLC with which SEV is involved on any level," the statement read. "Mr. Lalit Modi is neither a partner nor a shareholder and is not associated with SEV, or its founders or shareholders, in any capacity, either now or in the past."

Tariq Engineer is a senior sub-editor at Cricinfo

 Feeds: Tariq Engineer

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

FICA has approved Sri Lanka Premier League player contracts

Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) Chief Executive Tim May has confirmed that FICA had negotiated the terms and conditions of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) player contracts with Somerset Entertainment Ventures, the commercial rights' holders of the event.

"In December 2010, FICA engaged in discussions with SEV regarding theconstruction of the Player Contracts for the SLPL commencing July2011. Negotiations were robust but cordial and SEV adopted a number ofrecommendations made by FICA which resulted in a Player Contract in aform acceptable to FICA," May said and added the organisation approvedthe final form of the player contract in January 2011 and communicated

the same to all the player associations.

May also expressed surprise at the BCCI's decision to deny permissionto its players to take part in the SLPL as the Indian board suspectsthe involvement of former Indian Premier League Commissioner LalitModi, who was sacked on financial irregularity charges in the SriLankan Premier League. Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin and nine

other Indian players were scheduled to participate in the tournament.

"I am very surprised to see reports from the Indian media, that BCCIdo not believe that players should sign the Player Contracts - that iscertainly not the opinion of FICA or our legal advisors, and it is ourcharter to protect all players and to ensure that Player Contracts forEvents around the world are in acceptable form to protect player

interests," May said.

May said FICA doesn't have any issue recommending player participationin the SLPL. "It is an event that falls under the jurisdiction ofCricket Sri Lanka, the teams are owned and operated by Cricket SriLanka, Sri Lanka Cricket have provided us with a letter confirming theevent is an official tournament of Cricket Sri Lanka and the Event is

fully sanctioned by the ICC," he said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket officials requested the BCCI to changetheir stand but they refused to do so, Sri Lankan sports ministerMahindananda Aluthgamage told Reuters on Friday. Aluthgamage, who hasalready denied that Modi was involved with the tournament, also saidSLC officials wouldn't be going to India to meet their Indiancounterparts as the BCCI has indicated they won't change theirdecision; but added the SLPL would be held on schedule from July19-August 4. FICA has approved Sri Lanka Premier League player

contracts: May

Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) ChiefExecutive Tim May has confirmed that FICA had negotiated the terms andconditions of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) player contractswith Somerset Entertainment Ventures, the commercial rights' holdersof the event.

"In December 2010, FICA engaged in discussions with SEV regarding the 

construction of the Player Contracts for the SLPL commencing July

2011. Negotiations were robust but cordial and SEV adopted a number of

recommendations made by FICA which resulted in a Player Contract in a

form acceptable to FICA," May said and added the organisation approved

the final form of the player contract in January 2011 and communicated

the same to all the player associations.

May also expressed surprise at the BCCI's decision to deny permission

to its players to take part in the SLPL as the Indian board suspects

the involvement of former Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit

Modi, who was sacked on financial irregularity charges in the Sri

Lankan Premier League. Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, R Ashwin and nine

other Indian players were scheduled to participate in the tournament.

"I am very surprised to see reports from the Indian media, that BCCI

do not believe that players should sign the Player Contracts - that is

certainly not the opinion of FICA or our legal advisors, and it is our

charter to protect all players and to ensure that Player Contracts for

Events around the world are in acceptable form to protect player

interests," May said.

May said FICA doesn't have any issue recommending player participation

in the SLPL. "It is an event that falls under the jurisdiction of

Cricket Sri Lanka, the teams are owned and operated by Cricket Sri

Lanka, Sri Lanka Cricket have provided us with a letter confirming theevent is an official tournament of Cricket Sri Lanka and the Event is

fully sanctioned by the ICC," he said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket officials requested the BCCI to change

their stand but they refused to do so, Sri Lankan sports minister

Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Reuters on Friday. Aluthgamage, who has

already denied that Modi was involved with the tournament, also said

SLC officials wouldn't be going to India to meet their Indian

counterparts as the BCCI has indicated they won't change their

decision; but added the SLPL would be held on schedule from July

19-August 4. (yahoo cricket)

'Lalit Modi has no stake in Sri Lanka Premier League'

Former IPL chief Lalit Modi has nothing to do with the Sri Lanka Premier League, according to the Somerset Entertainment Ventures, the company who has the marketing rights of the tournament.

"Contrary to recent news/media reports, SEV would like to point out emphatically that Mr. Lalit Modi, ex Commissioner of the Indian Premier League has no stake or involvement whatsoever in SEV, either directly or indirectly, and has nothing to do with the SLPL or any tournaments of SLC with which SEV is involved on any level. Modi is neither a partner nor a shareholder and is not associated with SEV, or its founders or shareholders, in any capacity, either now or in the past," they said in a statement.

The SEV also clarified that they only had the marketing rights of the tournament in contrary to BCCI's objections that they were organizing the event.

"SEV is a Singapore-based, sports promotion company which provides sports and hospitality focused marketing and consultancy services. Set up in 2010 in Singapore by the Bhammer family, SEV's flagship involvement in sports is through its partnership with Sri Lanka Cricket ("SLC") (Sri Lanka's apex cricket governing body).  The partnership, which is on a long-term basis, kicks off with the launch of the inaugural edition of the Sri Lanka Premier League ("SLPL") which is to be held from July 19 until August 4," the statement further said.

BCCI reiterates decision to stay away from SLPL

The BCCI has refused to change its stance on preventing Indian players from taking part in the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) despite Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) offering bank guarantees to safeguard the Indian players' contracts. The two boards held a telephone conference on Thursday to discuss the issue, but were unable to come to an agreement. SLC, however, is expected to go ahead with the tournament as scheduled without the Indian players.

The BCCI had withheld its permission on the grounds that Somerset Entertainment Ventures, the company owning the commercial rights for the SLPL, would be handling the contracts for international players and that could lead to complications should disputes arise over payments. In order to assuage the Indian board, SLC were willing to back the Indian players' contracts so that their financial interests were protected, but that was not enough to satisfy the BCCI.

The BCCI's decision means the tournament will not have a broadcaster for the lucrative Indian market, a situation that makes it much more difficult for the SLPL to find a secure financial footing.

"It is their decision and we cannot force them to change their position," Sri Lanka's sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told Daily News & Analysis. "We knew that India was not going to change its stand. That was the reason why we did not go to India. We made an attempt to convince them, but the BCCI told us that it cannot reverse its stand. They seem to have some apprehensions over the tournament."

The minister also told the Times of India that Lalit Modi was the reason the BCCI did not want to be part of the tournament. "The Indian board told us they couldn't send their players for SLPL because they felt Modi is involved in this event. The BCCI also said that Modi is the third party and is working behind the scenes."

The BCCI's stand is contrary to that of the Australian, South African, New Zealand and Pakistan boards, which have all extended their support to the tournament. Tim May, the chief executive of Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), also backed the event. In a statement, May said that the association had negotiated the terms and conditions of SLPL player contracts with Somerset.

"FICA approved the final form of the player contract in January 2011," the statement read. "FICA's approval of the player contracts was communicated to all player associations in January. I am very surprised to see reports from the Indian media, that BCCI do not believe that players should sign the player contracts - that is certainly not the opinion of FICA or our legal advisors, and it is our charter to protect all players and to ensure that player contracts for events around the world are in acceptable form to protect player interests."

May also said he had a letter from SLC confirming that the event is an official SLC tournament and is fully sanctioned by the ICC. Daniel Vettori, Kevin O'Brien, Shahid Afridi, Kieron Pollard and David Warner are some of the international players expected to take part. The winner of the tournament is still expected to play in the Champions League Twenty20 in September.

SLC consistently denied the SLPL is a private-party organised tournament, saying it is owned and approved by SLC - and so, automatically, by the ICC. It said that Singapore-based Somerset Ventures only owns the commercial rights to the tournament. It also denied that Modi has anything to do with the event.

Tariq Engineer is a senior sub-editor at Cricinfo

 Feeds: Tariq Engineer

© ESPN EMEA Ltd.

Sri Lanka Cricket fails to secure TV broadcaster for SLPL

    India has refused to change its stance on the Sri Lanka Premier League(SLPL) and will not allow Indian players to take part in the T20 tournament. Losing the Indian TV market comes as a massive blow to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), who are still unable to sell the tournament to an international broadcaster.

   The secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) N. Srinivasan informed SLC officials of the decision over the phone on Thursday.

   “It is their decision and we cannot force them to change their position,” sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told the Indian newspaper Daily News & Analysis today.

   “We knew that India was not going to change its stand. That was the reason why we did not go to India,” he added, explaining why SLC chairman Somachandra de Silva and secretary Nishantha Ranatunga called off their trip to India on Wednesday to meet with BCCI officials.

    “We made an attempt to convince them, but the BCCI told us that it cannot reverse its stand. They seem to have some apprehensions over the tournament.”

   The financially struggling SLC had hoped the SLPL would be as gainful as the Indian Premier League (IPL), but losing Indian players and with it Indian TV audiences has dashed those hopes. Cricket-crazy India's large TV market brings in much of the advertising revenue, making the Indian team and its players highly sought after.

    In addition, the Singapore-based Somerset Entertainment Ventures (SEV) and SLC have failed to secure a broadcaster, with only weeks left before the start of tournament.

   “A lot depended on the Indian participation. Now that the Indians are not coming, we will try to sign a deal with a broadcaster internally in our country,” sports minister Aluthgamage added.

    India’s refusal is entirely as a result of SEV’s involvement in the competition. According to Indian media reports, the BCCI was unhappy that SLC had entrusted the issuing and signing of player contracts to SEV – a company launched only last year and, according to news reports, has links to the former IPL boss Lalit Modi, who now faces criminal charges in India.

   “Let's clarify that we are only the marketing partners of SLC and this tournament is owned, hosted and played by the Sri Lankan board as an official tournament,” SEV’s chairman Sandeep Bhammer told Gulf News recently.

    It is unclear at this time what SEV’s actual role in the tournament is, given the recent claims that they have also been in charge of signing overseas players for the SLPL, which is not generally considered a responsibility of a marketing partner. But what is clear is that the BCCI does not believe SEV are merely marketing partners.

    “In the IPL the players are contracted by the BCCI, but the SLPL is offering contracts with the event management company [SEV],” a BCCI official told reporters last week.

   “So, if there is any goof-up, Sri Lanka Cricket [SLC] cannot be held accountable. As a result, the board [BCCI] would not like to take any chances.”

The inaugural SLPL tournament is scheduled to get underway on July 19th.

© Island Cricket

Bank guarantee offered to Indian players

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is willing to offer contracts to all Indian players, if they are allowed by  the BCCI to participate in the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL). This was revealed by the top  SLC board official.     Apparently, at present, the contracts have been issued by the Singapore-based  company, Somerset Entertainment Ventures Pvt Ltd, the holder of the marketing rights.     "If the BCCI has reservation over doubts about the company, they are willing to give Bank  Guarantee to SLC for the payments to the Indian players and that is how the board officials will  argue to the Indian cricket board officials on Thursday (owing to visa delay, the chairman will  be arriving late and the meeting is rescheduled)", the source further added.. Only the Indian cricket board has  objection in having their players'  participation in the first edition  of the Sri Lanka Premier League ( SLPL) which is scheduled to be played  from July 19 to August 4. Following support from Australia and  South African boards, the hosts  have received thumbs up from New  Zealand as well.    "We have no problem with our players  participating in the Sri Lankan Premier  League; in fact we would encourage players  to do so outside of their international  commitments. We would hope the Sri  Lankan Cricket Board and their players  would support our domestic competitions  in the same way if they were asked to  participate in the HRV Cup", Hearth Mills,  the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association chief, said exclusively.    "It is our strong position that it would be viewed as a Restraint of Trade to stop players from working  for another organization if they have no obligations to their national board at that time. If New Zealand  Cricket did not automatically give an NOC to any player we would challenge that legally and it is our  clear advice that so long as a player is not missing obligations to the national board failure to give an  NOC would be a Restraint of Trade", he further added.    "With regard to the BCCI position on their players participating in the Sri Lankan event, we understand  that the Sri Lankan Board is working with an external company to deliver their event which is common  practice in the sports world. Much like the BCCI use IMG to help deliver the IPL. It seems semantics  who the players are actually contracted to as the event is controlled by the Sri Lankan Board  through the sanctioning process of the ICC. In any event if that was a material issue one would imagine it  could be easily solved with a bit of good will".    "If it was outsiders hosting and not the Sri Lankan Board then it can't be approved cricket under ICC rule  so that position of the BCCI doesn't make sense". The Sri Lankan Board must be involved otherwise it  wouldn't have been approved by ICC", Mills further added.       Several foreign players including Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard (West Indies), Shahid Afridi (Pakistan),  Daniel Vettori (New Zealand), Kevin O'Brien (Ireland) and Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa) have  already been signed for this tournament.