No home advantage for clubs in future

Matches to be played at neutral venues Preparation of pitches and ground to be supervised by SLC Five-year plan to improve quality of domestic cricket

- BY SA'ADI THAWFEEQ

CLUBS playing in the SLC Major 3-day League, which is the blue ribbon of club cricket in the country, will no longer have the home advantage of preparing wickets to suit their own ends after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) took a decision to play all matches at neutral venues.

The SLC Major Club 3-day League which commences today with a card of six matches will see this new scheme of things come into practice for the first time.

"This is the first time in the history of domestic cricket we are playing club matches at neutral venues. It is being done to improve the quality of wickets and cricket. This plan will go on for the next five years," said Tournament Committee Chairman Nalin Aponso.

"There is a gap between the NSL (National Super League) and Major Club tournaments. We want to bridge that gap by providing good wickets at neutral venues. The wickets will be prepared under the supervision of Sri Lanka Cricket."