Colombo, Jul 2 (IANS): Sri Lanka Cricket is still hopeful of conducting its inaugural T20 league from August 8 to 22 despite the government's decision to postpone the reopening of the island country's international airport till August 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We're hoping to speak to His Excellency (president Gotabaya Rajapaksa) and see if we can come to a decision," SLC CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo.

"Sri Lanka has done very well in containing the coronavirus as opposed to other countries in the region, and as such we have had a lot of interest from foreign players in taking part in the tournament."

The planned Lanka Premier League will have involvement of five teams. SLC is still in the process of accepting tenders for franchise ownerships. The cricketers will be picked through an auction process with each team allowed a maximum of six foreign players in a squad and four in the playing XI.

As per the ESPNcricinfo report, the length of the tournament will depend not only on Sri Lanka opening its borders but also on whether SLC is able to come to an agreement with the BCCI over a tour of Sri Lanka, also in August.

"At the moment we're looking at 23 games, but if India agrees to play then it will most probably come down to 13," de Silva said.