The Major Club 50-over that began on Monday and the Major Club T20 which begins today will be the first two tournaments that will come under the new promotion and relegation system where the participating teams will be ranked on points on their combined performances in the three formats (Major Club 50-over, Major Club T20 and Major Club 3-day league).
The SLC Transformation Committee has taken a decision to reduce the number of clubs participating in the Major tournaments to 10 (earlier it was 14). Currently, there are 14 clubs participating in the Major Clubs tournaments and 12 in Tier B.
Following the final rankings the bottom three clubs will be relegated to Tier B and the winner of Tier B promoted to the Major Clubs, thus making it 12 clubs. The same procedure will follow the following season as well with the bottom three teams from Major Club rankings demoted to Tier B and the Tier B champions promoted to Major Clubs thus making it 10 teams in the competition, which is the eventual number of clubs for the future.
The number of clubs participating in Tier B will remain the same at 12 with the bottom clubs being relegated to play in the Governor’s Trophy and the teams finishing at the bottom of the Governor’s Trophy to play in the inter-provincial.
The basis of promotion and relegation will depend on the total of weightage points after the three Major tournaments are completed.
Thus, it is imperative for all the participating clubs in both the Major Club and Tier B to ensure they put out their best eleven players for all the matches in the three formats to avoid being relegated when the rankings are finalized. – [ST]
Major Club T20 matches commencing today and the groupings:
At Colts: CCC v Nugegoda SWC 9.45 am; Panadura SC v Ace Capital CC 2 pm
Police Park: Bloomfield v Badureliya CC 9.45 am; Colts v SSC 2 pm
At Surrey grounds Maggona: BRC v Police SC 9.45 am; Tamil Union v Kurunegala YCC 2 pm
Group A: CCC, Moors SC, BRC, Tamil Union, Nugegoda SWC, Police SC, Kurunegala YCC
Group B: Panadura SC, NCC, Colts, Bloomfield, Ace Capital CC, Badureliya CC, SSC