Player transfers ahead of 2019/20 domestic season

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Invitation Limited Over Tournament marks the start of the domestic season in Sri Lanka for the year 2019/20 with multiple games set to be worked off around the island tomorrow (14).

We take a look at some of the key player transfers ahead of the tournament that begins tomorrow, which will be followed by the T20 and Premier League tournaments.

Dilshan Munaweera

The explosive right-hander who is known to be a white ball specialist, will look to make a mark this season after injury and form hampered him last season. He only turned out in two first class games for CCC last year with minimal impact making him more hungry to succeed this season. He has made a bit of a surprising switch to Negombo CC this season and is set to lead a very young team meaning he will carry a lot of responsibility going forward.

Madawa Warnapura

Another man making a similar switch from CCC to Negombo CC is the son of former Sri Lankan great Bandula Warnapura. With 95 first class games behind him, he adds a wealth of experience to the batting line up for Negombo CC and will look to guide the youngsters through difficult phases. He made 549 runs in 9 games averaging over 40 for CCC last season.

Tharindu Kaushal

The man who was once tipped to replace the great Muttiah Muralitharan finds himself at a tricky stage of his career as he makes another switch to BRC from Moors SC. After being a long servant of NCC with great success, the ban imposed of his ‘doosra’ has made him a less effective bowler even in the domestic circuit. A fighter with the bat, Kaushal will look to make his way back up the picking order of the national set up, with a strong performance this season.

Shehan Jayasuriya

After having a quiet season with Negombo CC last season, Jayasuriya makes the switch to Chilaw Marians where he will also lead the team. He has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket with both bat and ball for a number of years and he will look for another strong performance to be a regular pick at least in the shorter formats in the national team.

Lasith Croospulle

This promising youngster hailing from Negombo has been in great form in the recent past. He made three centuries in the recently concluded SLC Emerging Tournament, before carrying his form into the South Asian games where he was a part of the Sri Lanka U23 team. Similar to Jayasuriya, he too makes the switch from Negombo CC to Chilaw Marians.

Lahiru Milantha

The former Peterite left hander has lost a bit of form after a quiet mercantile tournament with John Keells Holdings, but is a man to watch out for as he moves to Baduraliya SC after a short stint with Tamil Union. A man who has won a couple of best batsman awards in the SLC Limited over Tournament in the past few years, will look to build on that confidence as Baduraliya takes on Army SC tomorrow.

Rumesh Buddika

Another consistent performer in the domestic circuit Buddika moves on to Chilaw Marians making the BRC batting look very thin. He averages a remarkable 44.46 in first class cricket, and has 15 centuries to go along with it.

Prasansana Jayamanne

A name that hardly gets a mention but Jayamanne hit 4 centuries in 7 games last season for Negombo CC in first class cricket. He also hit a double century the season before last, and averages a whopping 55.61 as he makes the switch to Tamil Union CAC.

Dinesh Chandimal & Thisara Perera

The two national stars Chandimal and Perera who played for NCC and SSC respectively, make an eye catching move to Army SC for the 2019/20 as they look to revive their national career after falling out of the radar to an extent. While Chandimal was picked for the Test tour of Pakistan, he has fallen down the pecking order in white ball cricket along with Perera who also lost his place after the World Cup.

Sachitra Serasinghe

A man who scores tons of runs and picks loads of wickets every season makes the move from Tamil Union to Moors SC this season. After consistent performances in the domestic circuit for a number of years, Serasinghe will look to put more pressure on the selectors as time starts running out on him with age.

Shiran Fernando

Shiran Fernando troubled a lot of batsmen with pace and bounce last season turning up for Moors SC – but he makes a switch to Ragama CC this season. Fernando excelled for the Sri Lanka A team at home against Bangladesh A as well, as the national selectors continue to keep an eye on this youngster.

Binura Fernando

Binura Fernando is another big name that moves out of Tamil Union as he makes his way to Ragama CC to strengthen their pace contingent which also includes Ishan Jayaratne and Shiran Fernando. After playing a couple of T20Is against Pakistan early on in his career, he has had a number of injuries and will look to push his case by playing a full season.

Sahan Nanayakkara

He has been another consistent performer For Ragama CC for a number of years with his left arm spin in tandem with national player Amila Aponso. The fact both being left arm spinners though sometimes affected Nanayakkara to get more overs in, as he makes a move to the newly promoted Lankan CC this season.

Sahan Arachchige

After one quiet season with Negombo CC, Sahan Arachchige makes a late switch to a strong NCC outfit this season. A powerful left handed batsman who also bowls useful off-spin will be a good addition to the NCC line up, while his electric fielding will keep the opposition batsmen on their toes.

Udara Jayasundara

After a couple of seasons away from domestic cricket in Sri Lanka, Jayasundara makes a return to his old club Ragama CC for the 2019/20 season. With age(28) still on his side, Jaysundara who already has two Test caps under his belt will look to provide good starts for Ragama CC at the top of the order.