MUMBAI: The auction of seven Sri Lanka Premier League franchises have fetched Sri Lankan cricket board $30 million with average price of each franchise working out to $4.3 million.

The SLC had set the reserve price for each franchise at $3 million. The franchises have the rights for seven years.

The names of the franchises have not been revealed. The SLC will announce the list of successful bidders only after its executive committee ratifies the bids.

"I am pleased to announce that bids were received in respect of all seven teams, at average price of $4.3 million per bid," SLC official Vajira Dassanayake said.

The first edition of the SLPL will be held from 10-31 August. The seven teams will play a total of 24 matches at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

The players will be selected through draft process on 5 and 6 July. They will be divided into two groups with the first group comprising players from Sri Lanka while the second group will include foreign players.

Each team will be allowed to have only 18 players in their squad with a compulsory ruling of no more than six overseas players in each squad.

Somerset Entertainment Ventures is commercial rights holder for the tournament.

All the matches of SLPL will be televised live by Carlton Sports in Sri Lanka. CSN is owned by family members of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

MUMBAI: Softening its stance towards Sri Lanka Premier League, the Indian cricket board has said it is open to allowing its players to participate in the tournament.

BCCI president N Srinivasan has said that the cricket board would examine the request by SLC once the proposal comes to the table.

"Last time around, there were specific reasons why the BCCI could not support the tournament. And we informed the Sri Lankan board at that time. This time, if there are any proposals made, we will examine it. And we have to be satisfied that the doubts and problems we had last time will not continue," Srinivasan said.

The SLPL, which will be played from 10-31 August at Colombo and Pallekele, had failed to take off last year due BCCI?s refusal to allow Indian players in the tournament thereby hurting the tournament?s commercial viability in the Indian market.

Last time around, the BCCI had contended that the contract with SEV, the commercial rights holder of SLPL, does not safeguard the financial interests of the Indian players.

The BCCI also suspected that former IPL chairman Lalit Modi had interests in SLPL, a charge that was vehemently denied by both SEV and SLC.

The first edition of SLPL Twenty20 will feature seven provincial teams who will play a total of 24 matches with a compulsory ruling of no more than six overseas players in each squad.

The seven teams for SLPL are Basnahira Bears, Kandurata Kites, Nagenahira Nagas, Ruhuna Rhinos, Uthura Oryxes, Uva Unicorns, and Wayamba Wolves.

However, teams can field only four overseas players in the playing 11, while the remaining seven players will be Sri Lankans, with one player mandatorily being an under-21 cricketer.

All the matches of SLPL will be televised live, with Carlton Sports Network broadcasting the matches in the home market of Sri Lanka. CSN is reportedly owned by family members of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka.

MUMBAI: The inaugural season of Sri Lanka Premier League will be held from 10-31 August at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka Cricket has announced.

The first edition of SLPL Twenty20 will feature seven provincial teams who will play a total of 24 matches with a compulsory ruling of no more than six overseas players in each squad.

However, teams can field only four overseas players in the playing eleven, while the remaining seven players will be Sri Lankans, with one player mandatorily being an under-21 cricketer.

"Twenty20?s massive popularity and status as the most exciting and entertaining format of cricket will be further enhanced by this newest tournament to the world of cricket. International players will be playing in the SLPL alongside Sri Lankan national cricketers and young Lankan hopefuls," SLC said in a media statement.

The seven teams for SLPL are Basnahira Bears, Kandurata Kites, Nagenahira Nagas, Ruhuna Rhinos, Uthura Oryxes, Uva Unicorns, and Wayamba Wolves.

"Each team shall draw elements of its unique branding/personality from the province it represents," the statement added.

The names of the respective Sri Lankan icon players for each province will be released shortly.

All the matches of SLPL will be televised live, with Carlton Sports Network broadcasting the matches in the home market of Sri Lanka. CSN is reportedly owned by family members of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka.

The tournament, which was expected to kick-off last year, had to be postponed at the last minute due to non-participation of Indian players, a key factor for the commercial success of the tournament.

SLC had recently signed a new 15-year commercial deal with Somerset Singapore-based Somerset Entertainment Ventures for the league, after the interim committee of SLC was replaced with a new one.