Indian business houses buy all 7 SLPL franchisees

Indian business enterprises showed keen interest in the inaugural edition of the Sri Lanka Premier League, buying all the seven contesting franchises on offer, even as the Board of Control for Cricket in India decided not to allow its players to participate in the Twenty20 league.

Even last year the BCCI had prohibited its players from participating in the league, which forced the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to abort the opening season of the SLPL.

While Wadhawan Holdings shelled out the highest bid -- US $5.02 million -- for Wayamba, Number One Sports Consulting offered a bid of US $4.98 million for Kandurata.

The Uva and Ruhuna went to Success Sports and Pearl Overseas respectively for an amount of US $4.6 million.

Basnahira was bought by Indian Cricket Dundee at US $4.33 million, while Uthura, at US $3.4 million, went to Rudra Sports.

Varun Beverages, meanwhile, spent US $3.22 million for Nagenahira.

The debut edition of the SLPL is scheduled to commence on August 10, with the final on August 31.

The matches will be played at Colombo and the central province's Pallekele.

The franchises will be allowed a maximum of 18 players, including six foreign cricketers, for registration. However, a team can play only two foreigners in the playing eleven.

The value of each player will be decided by SLC in the player draft, to be held on July 5 and 6.