Sri Lanka Premier League – SLPL

The Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) was a professional Twenty20 cricket league in Sri Lanka. It was first introduced in 2012 as an effort to promote domestic T20 cricket and provide a platform for local players to showcase their talent. However, the league faced several challenges and controversies, leading to its eventual discontinuation after the inaugural season.

The SLPL 2012 featured seven franchises, and the tournament took place from August 11 to August 31, 2012. The participating teams were:

Basnahira Cricket Dundee
Kandurata Warriors
Nagenahira Nagas
Ruhuna Royals
Uthura Rudras
Uva Next
Wayamba United
Each team consisted of both local and international players, and they competed in a round-robin format followed by semi-finals and a final. However, due to financial issues, lack of sponsorships, and organizational problems, the league failed to gain the expected traction and popularity.

Despite these issues, the league saw some good cricketing action, and players like Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Lasith Malinga participated in the tournament. The Uva Next team emerged as the champions of SLPL 2012 by defeating the Nagenahira Nagas in the final.

After the conclusion of the inaugural season, the SLPL faced a series of setbacks, including the suspension of several franchises and the withdrawal of international players. As a result, the league was unable to continue and was eventually disbanded.