Sri Lankan domestic season could resume in July

Sri Lanka Cricket is aiming to resume its halted 2019/2020 domestic season by the end of July, with the country's sports ministry having already given the go-ahead, ESPNcricinfo understands.

The 14-team Premier League Tier A Tournament was suspended in March following the Covid-19 outbreak, with just the group stages completed. Upon resumption the Premier Super Eight and Premier Plate rounds will be contested, though the exact restart date is subject to SLC holding a Special General Meeting (SGM), where member clubs will be asked to approve certain changes to tournament rules.

As per the SLC constitution, members need to be given 14 days' notice ahead of an SGM being held; as such the earliest the season can resume is in the final week of July. Among the rule changes to be discussed will be a reduction in playing days from four to three and the removal of relegation and promotion, according to SLC CEO Ashley De Silva.

"Sometimes the four-day game might become three days," De Silva told ESPNcricinfo. "We also don't know if the clubs will want to go ahead with promotion and relegation, taking into consideration the disrupted nature of the tournament."

The Premier League Tier B tournament however will not be resuming as yet, with SLC likely to complete it in the months ahead.

The Tier A tournament will be the first sporting event to take place in Sri Lanka following the easing of curfew measures, and with Sri Lanka's international tours for the year all postponed, a host of top players are expected to take part.