SLC makes it mandatory for LPL franchises to have two extra local players over and above drafted picks

In a bizarre announcement Sri Lanka Cricket, the Governing Council of the Lankan Premier League 2021, has decided to forward 10 names each to the five franchises of the league and make it mandatory for them to pick at least two players from the 10 choices. 

Reasoning this move, the SLC in a press release said, “Despite the overall success, Sri Lanka Cricket has observed that franchise owners have opted not to select certain national players and some young players who play excellent domestic cricket and are considered potential future stars.”

“Considering the above deficiency and in the interest of the game of Cricket in Sri Lanka, the Governing Council of the Lanka Premier League 2021 decided to forward the names of 10 deserving players, who missed out during the Player draft, to all the franchise owners, and make it ‘mandatory’ for each franchise to select two players out of the given 10 into their squad, thus expanding the squad strength from 20 to 22,” the statement added. 

It would be interesting to see how all the office franchises, who initially did not pick the players would react to this move and an extra burden from an authoritative notice. In this year’s edition, the Lanka Premier League 2021 received 673 applications from foreign players and a total of 1031 players (local and overseas) went into the draft. 

The five franchises, namely Galle Gladiators, Jaffna Kings, Colombo Stars, Kandy Warriors and Dambulla Giants have picked 20 players each in the draft which include six overseas players in each team. The LPL 2021 is scheduled to begin on December 05th and would be played till the 23rd of the same month with all league games scheduled to be played at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo with the qualifiers and final to be played at Hambantota.