Russel Arnold appointed as Lankan Premier League Director

After seeing the success of the cash-rich tournaments like the IPL, BBL, CPL, BPL and PSL, the Sri Lankan board decided to launch a franchise-based tournament of its own and since the last November, SLC has been laying the groundwork for this tournament and in a bid to make the tournament lucrative, they have now appointed Arnold as their director for the tournament for a period of five years. 

The 44-years-old former Sri Lankan batsmen, who announced his retirement from international cricket after the World Cup final loss to Australia in Bridgetown in 2007, will seem to help the local players adapt to the culture and demands of the shortest version of the cricket. 

While announcing Arnold’s appointment, SLC president, Thilanga Sumathipala said, "Russell will help the process of making LPL as a successful tournament. As a player, he has a great experience and knowledge, which is helpful for Sri Lankan Cricket," reported Cricbuzz. 

The board will try to insist Sri Lankan players to take part in the Lankan Premier league instead of the Caribbean Premier League, which will take place in West Indies at that same time, SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said. 

It was earlier reported that the SLC was trying to negotiate with the BCCI for allowing their second-string Indian players to participate in the tournament so as to raise their marketing and tournament value. The BCCI has never allowed its players to compete in foreign leagues, although SLC hopes to change that given the recent co-operation between both boards. The Cricket board is trying to make this tournament a five-team contest, but later they decided to organise it as a six-team event.  

Sri Lankan Cricket has not had a high profile T20 tournament ever since the Sri Lanka Premier League, which was cancelled after 2012 and was never played again. After SLPL, now the board is trying to make the LPL, which will be played from August 18 to September 10, a long-standing affair in their calendar.