India, July 16 -- The wait for franchise cricket in Sri Lanka is finally over as the Lanka Premier League makes its much-awaited return with a refreshed structure and several innovative changes. Defending champions SC Jaffna Kings will start their title defense and continue their dominance having won four of the last five editions.

The season also heralds a new tactical era, with the Impact Player rule allowing teams to make strategic substitutions during a game. In another big development, Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to make it compulsory for a franchise to have at least one U-23 Sri Lankan player in the playing XI during the entire match, in a bid to provide more opportunities to the next generation of cricketers in the country.

The...