Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the structure of the forthcoming domestic season for the 2016/17 year at a press conference held last evening.

The Premier League Tournament will kick off in November with the participation of 24 clubs in 2 segments, Tier A and Tier B.

In Tier A, 14 teams will participate in a two-group league three day tournament and the top 8 teams according to points will qualify for the Super 8 Tournament (Four day matches) which will be played with the Pink Ball. The remaining 6 teams will play in the Plate Tournament (Three day matches) and the team finishing last will be demoted to Tier B next season.

Tamil Union C & AC won the SLC Premier League Tournament 2015/16 while Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC ended at the bottom and was demoted to Tier B while Burgher Recreation Club, who won the SLC Emerging Tournament 2015/16, rose to Tier A.

In Tier B, formerly known as the Emerging Tournament, 10 teams will play in a three day league tournament after which the top team with the most number of points will be promoted to the Tier A in the following season.

All 24 teams have been granted first-class status and can register a maximum of 20 players for the season. Last season, only the top 14 clubs had first-class status.

After the Premier League Tournament is done and dusted, SLC Premier one-day and T20 tournaments will commence and will see the participation of all 24 first-class teams in 4 groups. The top two from each group will qualify for the knockout stages and the tournaments will proceed from quarter final stage to the Finals from there.

Tier A clubs

Tamil Union, SSC, Colts, NCC, Moors SC, Ragama CC, SL Army SC, CCC, Badureliya, Galle CC, Bloomfield C & AC, Chilaw Marians CC, Saracens CC, BRC.

Tier B clubs

Sri Lanka Ports Authority CC, Lankans CC, Panadura SC, SL Police SC, SL Navy SC, SL Air Force SC, Kalutara Town CC, Kalutara Public CC, Negombo CC, Kurunegala Youth CC.  

After the club tournaments are completed, SLC Inter-Provincial Tournament 2016/17 will be played with four teams taking part in the League (Four Day) tournament, one-day tournament and T20 tournament.

  1. Western Province (City of Colombo) – Home Venue will be R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
  2. Southern Province (City of Galle) – Home Venue will be Galle International Stadium.
  3. Central Province (City of Kandy) – Home Venue will be Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.
  4. North Central Province (City of Dambulla) – Home venue will be Rangiri Dambulu International Stadium.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR