Premier League reduced to 16 teams

The Sri Lankan cricket board has decided to reduce the number of Premier League teams to 16 next year, which means that at least two sides now face relegation.

To prevent a repeat of this years fiasco when Matara SC and Singha CC steadfastly refused to be demoted, meaning the competition swelled to 18 sides, the board has decided to play a Premier Qualifying Round, which will start in June.

The four bottom teams in the Premier League - Police SC, Singha CC, Kurunegala, and Navy SC- will battle it out with the two topsides in the Sara Trophy - Ragama CC and Chilaw Marians. Each team will play each other in the five-week fifteen-match competition