Sri Lanka Army has a long-running affinity with Sri Lanka’s cricket. There are a number of former and current Army personnel who represented the country at the highest level. Former Sri Lanka (then named Ceylon) Captain H.I.K. Fernando, who played for the country during the 1950s and 60s, was a Brigadier in the Army. More recently, the phenomenal spin bowler Ajantha Mendis also represented Sri Lanka Army. It is against such a backdrop that the inaugural edition of the “Army Commander’s League T20 Cricket Tournament” will begin on Monday, 5 October. Four teams The tournament will be played from 5 to 17 October at the Army Cricket Ground in Dombagoda and the Gajaba Regiment Ground in Saliyapura, Anuradhapura. Out of about 300 cricketers who currently represent the Army, four teams have been formed to feature in this tournament. Dinesh Chandimal, Seekkuge Prasanna, Asela Gunaratne, and Thisara Perera, who all are in the Army now, will lead those four teams in this T20 league. The four teams are named Southern Warriors, Northern Warriors, Eastern Warriors, and Western Warriors and have four different sponsors – Prima Stella, Super Fashions, DIMO, and Melbn. Key players The following key national players will participate in this tournament: •Eastern Warriors (Prima Stella): Asela Gunaratne (Capt.), Kusal Mendis, Sandun Weerakkody, and Chathuranga De Silva •Northern Warriors (Super Fashions): Seekkuge Prasanna (Capt.), Dasun Shanaka, Akila Dananjaya, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa •Southern Warriors (DIMO): Dinesh Chandimal (Capt.), Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, and Wanindu Hasaranga •Western Warriors (Melbn): Thisara Perera (Capt.), Avishka Fernando, Dammika Prasad, and Nuwan Pradeep •Commanders’ interest It is worth remembering that Thisara Perera joined the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force as a Major in 2019 following an invitation from Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva. The Army also groomed two more national players in 2017, Seekkuge Prasanna as a Warrant Officer-II and Asela Gunaratne as a Sergeant, when Lieutenant General Crishanthe de Silva was the Commander of the Army. Current Army Commander Lt. Gen. Silva has notably represented St. Thomas’ College, Matale in cricket at the age groups from Under-13 to 19, mainly as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Schedule of Army Commander’s League T20 Tournament: •Monday, 5 Oct. – Western vs. Northern and Southern vs. Eastern •Tuesday, 6 Oct. – Eastern vs. Northern and Southern vs. Western •Thursday, 8 Oct. – Western vs. Eastern and Northern vs. Southern •Friday, 9 Oct. – Southern vs. Eastern and Northern vs. Western •Saturday, 10 Oct. – Western vs. Southern and Eastern vs. Northern •Tuesday, 13 Oct. – Northern vs. Southern and Eastern vs. Western •Saturday, 17 Oct. - Final *All matches but the final are held in Dombagoda. The final will be at held in Anuradhapura. The first match of the day starts at 9.30 a.m. and the second will follow at 2 p.m.