Never mind the auction, here’s the draft

The Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) is the latest addition to the growing number of Twenty20 leagues across the globe. While there is much to be learnt about the SLPL’s ownership structure and player selection process, a few aspects are now known.

Featuring seven teams, and to be played in July and August, it is meant to showcase existing and emerging Sri Lankan talent to the world. The international component, capped at five players per team and four in each playing XI, is likely to feature a raft of Pakistanis – who were excluded from the IPL after the first season – and a dozen-odd Indians. They will be paid between US$10,000-35,000 each in the first season, a figure expected to significantly increase in future editions.

Top players comment on SLPL

CHRIS GAYLE: Everything that’s cricket is good for me. I love to play my natural game and hoping it goes the way IPL 4 has gone so far. League matches not only give players a chance to display their skills but also puts them under instant spotlight if they perform well. My idea is clear — perform or sit back. So I am excited as well as nervous.

PAUL VALTHATY: I am definitely looking forward to go there. IPL has been a good experience for me and I would want to continue with the form. It will not only help players to adapt to different weather conditions but also pitches. For me, every match is a learning experience and I am looking at SLPL as a platform to hone my playing skills.

PCB may withdraw Afridi NOC for SLPL

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and former skipper of Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi are now in-fighting as Afridi accused PCB for his conditional retirement and now PCB is planning to withdraw NOC issued to Boom Boom Afridi to take part in the inaugural Sri Lankan Premier League.

Sources told The Sports Encounter scribe here that Afridi’s media statement has been reported to PCB Chairman Ejaz Butt and PCB has decided to adopt offensive approach in the Shahid Afridi’s case and deal the matter as per the board’s rules and regulations.

SLPL 2011 Complete Schedule

Sri Lankan cricket board held Match league as like IPL(Indian Primer League) in coming soon month July 2011. SLPL 2011 (Sri Lanka Primer League) will start from July 19 to August 04, 2011 and continue about 18 days. In this league total 7 teams are War against each other.Sri Lanka Premier League Schedule 2011 | SLPL 2011 T20 Schedule ,Fixtures, Teams Logos and Match Timings

SLPL to Live broadcast in Sri Lanka by CSN TV

Sri Lanka Premeir league all island broadcasting will be done by CSN – Sri Lanka’s Premier Sports Network.

Carlton Sports Network, Sri Lanka’s Premier sports TV channel was launched in order to take television another step forward along with a vision of developing and uplifting all sports equally regardless of gender, age, race or ethnicity through broad media coverage across the country and throughout the world keeping Sport & Lifestyle at the forefront at all times.

Kevin O’Brien joins Sri Lanka Premier League

Kevin O’Brien is about to turn his big-hitting World Cup heroics into personal reward on the double after signing up to play for English county side Gloucestershire, while he will also join one of the seven sides to take part in the new Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) Twenty20 tournament later in the summer.

The 27-year-old all-rounder from Sandymount, Dublin, displayed his destructive batting to brilliant effect during the recent World Cup, scoring the fastest century in the tournament’s history off just 50 balls as Ireland stunned England in victory in Bangalore.

Talks of a lucrative deal with an Indian Premier League franchise came in the aftermath of that performance, but having not been included in the original list for the player auction, O’Brien would have to bide his time.

Now the Railway Union right-hander will have the perfect opportunity to put himself in the shop window by taking part in the inaugural Sri Lankan tournament, which will be run off over 18 days in late July and August and organised by Singapore-based Somerset Entertainment Ventures.

Sri Lanka Premier League to have seven teams

The first edition of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) will be a seven-team inter-provincial tournament played over approximately 18 days at the end of July and the beginning of August this year. The teams will play each other once, with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals. All the games will be played the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the winner of the tournament will qualify for the Champions League Twenty20.