The player draft of the second Sri Lanka Premier League season is scheduled for July 14 in Colombo and is expected to contain several international players, including a strong South African contingent, according to the league’s chief executive officer, Ajith Jayasekara.
The league is scheduled between August 10 and September 7.‘We have the entire South African squad with the exception of Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis lined up to take part,’ Jayasekara said. ‘Pakistan has also shown their intention to send their present lot of cricketers but the participation of most of their key players depends on whether their tour to Zimbabwe takes place.’
South Africa are due to tour Sri Lanka from July 20 to August 6 for five ODIs and three T20s and there is a possibility that members of the visiting team will stay back to participate in the league.
‘With the exception of England and India, players from all the other Test-playing nations have shown interest in participating in the league,’ Jayasekara said. ‘Even a top performer like Chris Gayle has expressed his intention to take part once the Caribbean Premier League ends on August 24.’
Other West Indian players like fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor, as well as Australians such as Doug Bollinger, Brad Hodge and Shaun Tait are among those who are expected to participate. The list also includes Mushfiqur Rahim, the Bangladesh captain. Jayasekara also said the franchises would reveal the list of players they are releasing by July 8.
-With New Age input
