Cricket: 2nd LPL to go ahead as planned

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that the second edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will go ahead as planned without any changes despite the ongoing travel restrictions and rising number of cases due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to reiterate that the second edition of the Lanka Premier League will be held during July and August 2021, as earlier announced Accordingly, the tournament will be held from July 30 to August 22," an official media release issued by SLC stated.

The inaugural edition of the LPL, Sri Lanka's topmost domestic Twenty20 league, with an international flavour, was conducted last year at Sooriyawewa International Stadium in Hambantota, with five teams locking horns.

The inaugural edition received wide-scale attention, and millions of fans from across the world viewed the tournament via television and digital platforms, with 135 million viewers watching the finals.

"The 2020 edition was held under a successful Bio-Bubble environment. Health protocols for the second edition of the LPL will be, planned based on the directions of the Ministry of Health," the statement added.