Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) which had announced its intention to replace the franchise owners of the title-holders of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) B-Love Kandy, ahead of its player auction has reportedly done a remarkable volte-face The Daily Morning Sports learns.
Thus it has been confirmed that the LPL organisers have allowed the incumbent owners to operate at the fifth edition of the tournament as well.
It was revealed to the media by the LPL organisers during a press conference held in Colombo last Friday (17), that the ownership contract of the defending champions will be terminated due to breaches of so-called ‘contractual obligations’.
However, during the LPL player auction held last afternoon (21) at a five-star hotel in Colombo, the owners and officials of the Kandy franchise were seen in attendance.
This was further proof that the SLCs had a change of heart on the matter and had allowed the incumbent owners to function.
B-Love Kandy franchise was owned last year by B-Love Network, a Dubai-based cryptocurrency business helmed by Pakistani businessman Omar Khan, who is also popularly known as ‘OK’.
But, it has been said that operating an online foreign exchange business is outlawed in Sri Lanka and how it has been allowed to be the owners of a T20 franchise team, has raised eyebrows.
It has also placed the country’s topmost T20 League under the microscope while inviting unwelcome scrutiny on it by the public.
The team led by national T20 captain Wanidu Hasaranga and including the likes of ex-skipper Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, and Dushmantha Chameera to name a few, won the fourth edition of the competition last year.
However, the SLC had previously decided to replace the current owners of the reigning champions, despite the latter’s fervent desire to continue in the League.
Meanwhile, SLC had opted to get rid of the B-Love Network due to the latter’s failure to fulfil contractual obligations such as non-payment of franchise fees in full and running into hefty amounts towards the end of the tournament held 12-months ago, informed sources revealed.
LPL Director Samantha Dodanwela had previously claimed that all franchise owners of the popular T20 extravaganza were vetted by the ICC and that there will be no leeway for those not vetted to function under his watch.
But, with regard to how an online foreign exchange business has been allowed to operate being the sponsor of a local T20 franchise, when it is illegal for such activity to take place in the country is the 64.000 dollar question that needs to be answered by the SLC.
Dodanwela had confirmed to the media ahead of yesterday’s player auction that two other franchises namely Dambulla and Galle will have new owners ahead of the latest edition, due to the previous owners being substituted over their failure to fulfil certain contractual guidelines.
If that has been the case the reasons which has prompted the SLC to retain the B-Love Network as owners of the Kandy franchise after they too had failed to meet their contractual demands will be worth finding out.
Efforts made to contact SLC officials including the LPL Director or its CEO Ashley de Silva over the issue, failed, as they were engaged with the League’s player auction which took place throughout last afternoon.