Premier league reduction of teams runs into snag

Sa'adi THAWFEEQ

CRICKET: The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) interim committee's attempt to reduce the size of clubs participating in the Division I Premier Trophy League to 14 has run into a snag with an injunction being brought against them by one of the clubs, thus delaying the commencement of the relegation round of the tournament.

The relegation round was due to commence along with the Super League at the end of the week but has been held back due to the litigation brought against them by Negombo CC over a Sara Trophy first round match against Seeduwa-Raddoluwa which has been ruled null and void by the Tournament Committee.

The Tournament Committee's view in making that ruling is that the match which saw over 800 runs being scored in one day 'was not played within the spirit of the game'.

Thus until this issue is resolved in courts the Sara Trophy Tournament cannot be completed. The winner of this tournament will join seven other clubs from the Premier Division namely, Saracens, Galle CC, Police SC, Air Force, Singha SC, Lankan CC and Kurunegala YCC to play in the relegation round.

The winner of the relegation round will qualify as the 14th club to play in next season's Premier Trophy League Tournament.

The 13 clubs who have qualified for the Premier Trophy League next season are the top eight teams playing in the Super League starting today and five other clubs namely Badureliya CC, NCC, Moors SC, Sebastianites and Panadura SC. However for these five clubs the season has ended as they have no cricket.

The four Super League quarter-final matches which will be played over four days began yesterday namely: BRC v Ragama CC at FTZ grounds, Colts v Bloomfield at BRC Grounds, Chilaw Marians v CCC at Colts Grounds and, Tamil Union v SSC at R. Premadasa Stadium.

The semi-finals are scheduled for March 9-12 at CCC Grounds and Colts Grounds and, the final for March 16-19 at Colts Grounds.