Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed Russel Arnold as the director of Lankan Premier League [LPL] which is scheduled to take place in August this year. The former Sri Lanka cricketer has been selected for the inaugural season of the league and his contract could be extended beyond.

A window from mid-August to mid-September has been allocated for next five years to play the tournament. Despite an unsuccessful attempt of having their own league, SLPL, in 2012, the Lankan cricket board has once again opted for franchise based competition.

Although the tournament was expected to have five teams, another team is likely to be added to the blend. SLC is negotiating with BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India] to settle the inclusion of Indian players to the league in order to make the it more attractive.

“We considered bringing in a person in the caliber of Russel as the Tournament Director of the LPL as it will help the process of making it a successful tournament, especially considering his experience as a player and also his knowledge in promoting the game,” Thilanga Sumathipala, SLC President said in a media release.

According to Russel, LPL will help local player to adapt to the global demands of the shortest format of international cricket.

“I am honored to join in as the Director of the Lankan Premier League, which I believe will help create a highly competitive T20 League in Sri Lanka, thus helping the local players to adapt to the global demands of the shortest version of the game,” Arnold reportedly said in a statement.