SLC Premier League Tournament to begin on November 25th

The Sri Lanka Cricket domestic season 2016/17 will begin on the 25th of November with the commencement of the Premier League first-class tournament.

This season, the premier three-day club tournament will see 24 teams battling it out in a two segments, Tier A and Tier B.

In Tier A, 14 teams will be divided into two groups of 7. The top four teams from each group 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.

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 Tier A in the following season.

The Premier Limited Overs Tournament and T20 Tournament will be played during the early part of 2017 with the participation of all 24 club teams. The Premier Super 8 and Plate Tournaments will commence on 14th January while the Tier B tournament will conclude on 22nd January.

The 2nd XI tournament which was played between the 14 ‘Tier A’ teams has been scrapped this season in order to give first-class status to all 24 clubs.

Premier League Tournament 2016/17 – Tier A

CLICK HERE for Tier ‘A’ Fixtures

Last season’s league winner, Tamil Union C & AC have been grouped with number 4 and 5 seeded Galle CC and SSC alongside the wooden-spoon holder in the Super Eight tournament 2015/16 and limited-over champions, NCC. Last season’s plate winner Bloomfield C & AC, Chilaw Marians SC and Badureliya CC make up the rest of group A.

In group B, last season’s league runner-up Moors SC will have stiff competition from second runner-up Ragama CC who bagged 61 points. Colts and CCC who ended up as number 6 and 7 respectively in the Super Eight Tournament will also battle it out against last season’s club T20 winner, SL Army SC. Saracens Sports Club will be the dark horse in group B while the newly-promoted BRC outfit will have several top domestic players in their ranks.

Premier League Tournament 2016/17 – Tier B

CLICK HERE for Tier ‘B’ Fixtures

Sri Lanka Ports Authority SC who won the Premier League Tournament in 2014/15 was demoted to Tier B after ending last in the Plate Tournament. Negombo CC was promoted to Tier B this season after winning the P. Sara Tournament. Teams like Panadura SC, Lankan CC and Navy SC will be the front runners to win the ‘Tier B’ tournament this season.

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.