LPL will boost cricketing interest, offer real opportunities for youngsters: Jaffna team owners

• Jaffna Stallions is owned by UK-based consortium led by successful healthcare entrepreneur Brindon Bagirathan 
• Three home-grown talented youngsters from Jaffna, Theivendram Dinoshan (18), Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (19) and Kanagarathnam Kabilraj (21) included in team led by Thisara Perera

Lanka Premier League (LPL) will boost the cricketing interest among young cricketers in the island nation and offer real opportunities in the future, feels Jaffna Stallions franchisee CEO Selva Waran. 

Lanka Premier League is scheduled to be played from 21 November to 13 December at Pallekele and Hambantota. 

Thisara Perera, Dawid Malan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shoaib Malik and Usman Shinwari are some of the key players picked in the players draft by the team. The team has also picked three home-grown talented youngsters from Jaffana, Theivendram Dinoshan (18), Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (19) and Kanagarathnam Kabilraj (21) in the squad. 

“The inclusion of three Jaffna-born youngsters in our team is testimony to the kind of cricketing talent this province has. It is also an encouragement to the cricketing community of Jaffna and rural cricketers across the island. 

“I am confident that LPL will further boost cricketing interest among young cricketers and offer real opportunities in the future. Our consortium shall strive to work beyond the LPL matches and make real grassroots progress to help the development of cricket in Jaffna. We hope one day one of our kids will play at national and international level,” said Waran.

“It gives me immense pleasure to present this team to the world, and I am sure we will go all the way to the final with Thisara Perera as the captain and Thilina Kandamby as the coach. We are also very proud to present the three home-grown talented youngsters from Jaffna, Theivendram Dinoshan (18), Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (19) and Kanagarathnam Kabilraj (21) who will play a very important role in the team. 

“I was born and brought up in Jaffna until my late teens and I am now, by God›s grace, working in the UK. We grew up with tennis ball cricket using makeshift bats of our own handicraft, sometimes we even play cricket on paddy fields, and we call vayal, during dry seasons. 

“Sadly 30-plus years later we observe that Jaffna is still far behind in cricketing facilities such as grounds with turf wickets etc. Our consortium comprises a group of humble people who wish to ring hope for aspiring youth in Jaffna enabling a new pathway to gain entry to higher grade cricket,” said Jaffna Stallions Chief Strategist A. Anandan. 

SLC VP and LPL Tournament Director Ravin Wickramaratne said: “There is a huge pool of raw talent in every part of Sri Lanka. SLC has always thrived to develop the game in every nook and corner of the Island and I am extremely happy that the Jaffna Stallions too share the same vision for the game. I wish the team all the very best for the LPL.”

Promoter of LPL, Dubai-based production giant IPG CEO Anil Mohan added: “Sri Lanka is all set to witness a new chapter in its cricketing history with LPL and I am confident that the Jaffna team›s performance will help the League grow in stature. The Jaffna team is a good mix of experience and youth and I am sure the fans here will have plenty to cheer about.”

Jaffna Stallions is owned by a UK-based consortium led by successful healthcare entrepreneur Brindon Bagirathan. He is known and renowned amongst cricket circles, most prevalent in Australia, England and India. The core motivation of the franchise is to develop cricket in the Northern Province in Sri Lanka. This is highlighted by the picking of three Jaffna-based cricketers. 

That said, as avid followers and fans of Sri Lanka cricket, the stakeholders of the franchise want to use this opportunity to see Sri Lanka cricket develop. With Thisara Perera at the helm of team, there is an experienced leader at the top to ensure Jaffna Stallions are competitive and capable of winning the competition.

The schedule for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) was announced on Friday with Colombo competing against Galle in the opening match of the tournament on 21 November at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota. 

On day two of the tournament, Kandy will take on Jaffna while Dambulla will play against Colombo in Hambantota. The two semi-finals and the final will be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. The final of the tournament will be played on 13 December with 14 December being kept as a reserve day.