The inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 has been postponed due to the quarantine hurdles amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president, Shammi Silva, told NewsWire. 

Due to begin on August 28, the five-team tournament was set to see 23 matches played at four different venues across the Island nation. 

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Reports did the round that some of the popular names from the international game are set to be part of the draft from where each team was to create its squad, also comprising local Sri Lankan players. 

However, the SLC was forced to indefinitely postpone the event because of the issues faced regarding the necessary isolation period on arrival in the country. 

The board had hoped that in wake of the fact that the nation has dealt well with the pandemic, there won't be any need to quarantine international players and they could do with normal testing before on-field action. 

"We had a discussion with the health authorities and the 14 day quarantine period for anyone entering the country is compulsory. So it’s difficult to play the tournament at the end of August," Silva told NewsWire.

Silva, though, did add that the SLC wishes to now hold the tournament post the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in UAE. 

"We will play the tournament in mid November after IPL," he said.