Star-studded LPL Player Auction attracts big names

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The big names in world T20 cricket and crowd pullers like West Indians Chris Gayle and Andre Russell, South African David Miller, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and England’s Dawid Malan will figure in each of the five teams of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) as Marquee Overseas Players.

The LPL Player Draft that took place on Zoom last evening saw Gayle being picked by Kandy Tuskers who are coached by former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne. The team also comprises Sri Lanka’s top players Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis amongst others local and overseas players.

One of the hardest hitting players in the one-day circuit Andre Russell, will team along with former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews for a Colombo Kings side that also includes South African captain Faf du Plessis and another former Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal. Colombo will be coached by Dav Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to their 1996 World Cup win.

Dambulla Hawks coached by former Durham coach Jon Lewis has South African all-rounder David Miller, West Indian Carlos Brathwaite, former Sri Lanka T20 skipper Dasun Shanaka and wicket-keeper/batsman Niroshan Dickwella in their ranks.    

Sri Lanka’s T20 skipper Lasith Malinga heads the Galle Gladiators squad, which also includes the exciting hard-hitting all-rounder from Pakistan Shahid Afridi, South African Colin Ingram, and former Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed. The team is coached by former Pakistan captain Moin Khan.

England’s explosive left-hand batsman Dawid Malan has been picked by Jaffna Stallions who are coached by former Sri Lanka cricketer Thilina Kandamby. Former Sri Lanka white ball captain Thisara Perera, and young Sri Lankan cricketers Wanindu Hasaranga and Avishka Fernando also figure in the squad of 16, that also includes experienced Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik.

Charu Sharma, the well-known Indian commentator and compere, who conducted the LPL Player Draft said: “The five team owners have been very generous and understanding with each other for choosing five teams so equally matched that you cannot pick a winner. We are looking forward to a truly competitive tournament.”

The Five Teams

JAFFNA STALLIONS: Thisara Perera, Dawid Malan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shoaib Malik, Usman Shinwari, Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Suranga Lakmal, Binura Fernando, Asif Ali, Minod Bhanuka, Chaturanga de Silva, Mahesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka.

DAMBULLA HAWKS: Dasun Shanaka, David Miller, Carlos Brathwaite, Samith Patel, Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Kumara, Oshada Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Paul Stirling, Lahiru Madushanka, Upul Tharanga, Angelo Perera, Ramesh Mendis, Pulina Tharanga.

GALLE GLADIATORS: Lasith Malinga, Shahid Afridi, Colin Ingram, Hazrullah Zazai, Mohammad Amir, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Akila Dananjaya, Milinda Siriwardana, Sarfraz Ahmed, Azam Khan, Lakshan Sandakan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Mohamed Shiraz.

KANDY TUSKERS: Kusal Perera, Chris Gayle, Liam Plunkett, Wahab Riaz, Kusal Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Seekkuge Prasanna, Asela Gunaratne, Naveenul Haq, Kamindu Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Priyamal Perera, Avishka Anjula, Lasith Embuldeniya.  

COLOMBO KINGS: Angelo Mathews, Andre Russell, Faf du Plessis, MS Gony, Manvinder Bisla, Isuru Udana, Dinesh Chandimal, Amila Aponso, Ravinderpal Singh, Dushmantha Chameera, Ashan Priyanjana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Thiksila de Silva, Tharindu Kaushal, Lahiru Udara.

Jaffna, Dambulla, Kandy and Colombo have time till 1 November to pick overseas players in their side as they were unable to do so at the Draft.

Each of these teams will have four supplementary players making it a total of 20 in the squad.

The LPL is scheduled to be played from 21 November to 13 December at two venues – Pallekele and Hambantota and will comprise 23 matches over a 15-day period.