Captains express their views on what makes LPL different to other leagues

The five Captains, from left: Kusal Mendis (Colombo Kaps), Dinesh Chandimal (Dambulla Sixers), Angelo Mathews (Kandy Royals), Dasun Shanaka (Galle Gallants) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Jaffna Kings) with the LPL trophy

• LPL stands out a lot compared to other tournaments – Jaffna Kings Captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Three past Sri Lanka Captains, the present white ball Captain and one senior player expressed their views on what makes the Lanka Premier League (LPL) different to other leagues played around the world at a media conference held ahead of the start of edition six at Cinnamon Lakeside yesterday.

Jaffna Kings Captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa who has the experience of playing in several leagues around the world said, “It’s a global tournament and we have been growing so much, the LPL. One of the good things is we never even stopped it for the Covid variant when it happened. It has created many opportunities for a lot of youngsters. If you look in the past there have been so many players who have benefited throughout playing in the LPL. It’s not just a local event, when the foreign boys come, we get the exposure from them and we learn a lot from them. Just to summarise it, LPL stands out a lot compared to other tournaments. We play a lot on good turf and the event is so spectacular, so hopefully we can grow it much stronger.”

Angelo Mathews, the most senior Captain amongst the five who will lead Kandy Royals said, “Every league is unique to its own country. It’s about us producing players and about the younger generation who benefits so much out of a tournament like this, rubbing shoulders with the international cream of players. We’ve got some amazing international players as well as current local players. It’s sharing the same dressing room and looking at how some of the big names in the game react to certain situations and conditions. It’s a big learning process for the youngsters.”

39-year-old Mathews said playing in the LPL was another opportunity to go out there and express himself. “I am not playing to please anyone or get into their good books. I just want to enjoy it. Playing cricket is a passion that I’ve had since my small days, the love for the game. I still train and am still fit enough to play. To come and play this sort of cricket you need to be fit, so I still continue playing domestic cricket to be in touch with the game.”

Kusal Mendis, the Captain of Colombo Kaps and the present national white ball captain described the LPL as the best league in the country where you have foreign players with experience who play at other franchises coming and playing here.

“Year after year the number of players is increasing, which is good for our young players as well as for us to improve our standards in international T20s. In that aspect this league is important. I don’t see any big difference with other leagues around the world. Each year if we can take a step up it will be a good thing. There is no age limit in T20 cricket if you can perform and have match fitness you can be selected to play for your country. We have another two T20 World Cups ahead of us and we need players with experience as well as young talent. I expect by the end of this tournament we will be able to produce a few junior cricketers to play in the national team.”

Former national white ball Captain and skipper of Galle Gallants Dasun Shanaka said, “When it comes to LPL, it’s about our own league and our own talent. Sri Lanka is always known for unorthodox talent. We have found in the recent past such talent. I hope this year too we can produce similar talent. It’s about expressing ourselves especially when we play in our own league.”

Dinesh Chandimal, another former Sri Lanka Captain who will lead Dambulla Sixers said, “This is a really good opportunity for all of us to showcase our talent especially the younger players, those who are coming up to international level. Credit goes to Sri Lanka Cricket as well as to its director (Samantha Dodanwela) to keep this happening. We want to thank you for having it this year also. I am wishing every team good luck for the tournament.”