Lanka Premier League 2021 – Preview & Squads

The five franchises have confirmed their squads for the 2^nd edition of the Lanka Premier League 2021, which will begin on Sunday in Colombo.

The five teams will play 24 matches in 14 match days across two venues from 5^th to 23^rd December. The round-robin stage will be played at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo, while the play-off matches will be worked out at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambanthota.

The five teams – namely Jaffna Kings, Galle Gladiators, Colombo Stars, Dambulla Giants and Kandy Warriors – had to do some late changes/additions to their squads and have entered their respective bio-secure bubbles. Players coming in from the Sri Lanka vs West Indies bubble will join their respective teams tomorrow (4^th December), while the players arriving from Abu Dhabi T10 are also expected to do the same.

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The champions of the Lanka Premier League 2021, Sri Lanka’s top-most franchise-based T20 competition, will receive prize money of LKR 20 Million, whilst the runner-up will receive LKR 10 Million, with attractive rewards for individual player performances as well.

Double-vaccinated spectators will be allowed to witness the games from the grounds with SLC, with the Ministry of Health allowing 50% of  venues’ capacity. The fans can purchase tickets only from Bookmyshow.com, Daraz.lk and the SLC website.

Jaffna Kings

Thisara Perera, who retired from international Cricket earlier this year, will lead a strong Jaffna Kings outfit. Even though the franchise owners changed, the core of the players and the coaching staff remains the same for the Jaffna franchise, who won the inaugural edition last year.

The World No.1 ranked T20I bowler Wanindu Hasaranga, who is in red hot-form following a brilliant ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign as well as the Abu Dhabi T10 League, will surely be the cynosure of all eyes when the tournament begins on Sunday. He was the Player of the Tournament last season and will no doubt look forward to weaving his magic for Jaffna Kings.

The addition of left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama gives plenty of depth to the Jaffna Kings bowling outfit. Exciting, uncapped seamer Chamika Gunasekara could well be the most looked forward emerging player from the Jaffna Kings camp.

From the overseas contingent, Jaffna Kings boasts of plenty of experience in the likes of former South African captain Faf Du Plessis,  and Pakistani trio Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Malik and Usman Shinwari. Afghanistani Rahmanullah Gurbaz is another accumulator, who could also keep wickets for Jaffna Kings.

Local Players – Thisara Perera (Captain), Wanindu Hasaranga, Avishka Fernando, Upul Tharanga, Chathuranga de Silva, Suranga Lakmal, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Ashen Bandara, Chamika Gunasekara, Sammu Ashan, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Theivendiram Dinoshan, Ashan Randika, Rathnaraja Thanuradan, Krishan Sanjula

Overseas Players – Faf du Plessis (South Africa), Shoaib Malik (Pakistan), Wahab Riaz (Pakistan), Usman Shinwari (Pakistan), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Jayden Seales (West Indies)

Possible first-choice XI – Faf Du Plessis, Upul Tharanga, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Avishka Fernando, Shoaib Malik, Thisara Perera (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chathuranga De Silva, Wahab Riaz, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Gunasekara

Galle Gladiators

Last year’s runner-up Galle Gladiators have made some interesting additions to their squad this season, with the signing of retired Sri Lankan all-rounder Isuru Udana, Pakistani batter Mohammad Hafeez and England all-rounder, Samit Patel.

Danushka Gunathilaka, who has been suspended from international Cricket along with Kusal Mendis for the Durham Bio-Bubble breach, will be itching to get out there and prove a point as they step onto the competitive Cricket field after nearly 6 months.

Even though they will not have the services of Sarfraz Ahmad due to national commitments and Tabraiz Shamsi due to international travel restrictions, Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s team will be one of the strong contenders for the title this season.

Dialog powers LPL 2021 as ‘Telecommunication Partner’

Dhananjaya Lakshan, who had a breakthrough inaugural season, will be another exciting prospect to watch out as he will need to continue his good work. Uncapped spin duo off-spinner Ashain Daniel and leg-spinner Pulina Tharanga both had a stellar Dialog-SLC Invitational T20 League a few months ago, and could well be the main two spinners for Galle, along with Afghan spin sensation Noor Ahmed.

The late addition of Ben Dunk, who has a brilliant record in the Big-Bash League as well as the Pakistan Super League, may well surprise many teams in the LPL 2021. He is most likely to be the wicket-keeper of the side.

Local Players – Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Captain), Isuru Udana, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Suminda Lakshan, Pulina Tharanga, Lahiru Madushanka, Mohammad Shamaaz, Ashain Daniel, Kevin Koththigoda, Nuwan Thushara, Angelo Jayasinghe, Pramod Madushan

Overseas Players – Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan), Mohammad Amir (Pakistan), Anwar Ali (Pakistan), Samit Patel (England), Ben Dunk (Australia), Noor Ahmed (Afghanistan)

Possible first-choice XI – Danushka Gunathilaka, Ben Dunk, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (C), Mohammad Hafeez, Lahiru Madushanka, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Pulina Tharanga, Mohammad Amir, Noor Ahmed, Ashain Daniel

Colombo Stars

Colombo Stars have the most changed squads following the ‘Player Draft’. Plenty of nationally-contracted players, who missed out during the draft, have found themselves in the Colombo Stars squad.

Angelo Mathews’ potential absence from at least 3-4 matches due to his quad injury will be a massive blow for Colombo Stars. However, they have some solid replacements in their bench, who could fill in anytime.

Kusal Perera is expected to reunite with his opening partner from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, Pathum Nissanka, to provide a strong partnership, while speedster Dushmantha Chameera is expected to lead the bowling attack. In Mathews’ absence, Chandimal is expected to lead the Colombo Stars. Watch out for the young, uncapped seam-bowling duo, Shiran Fernando and Himesh Ramanayake. They both have some serious pace and could well be fighting for one spot in the final XI.

Tom Banton from England, David Wiese from Namibia should be automatic picks as overseas players for Colombo Stars. However, Naveen Ul-Haq and Sherfane Rutherford have been in good touch lately during the Abu Dhabi T10 competition.

Local Players – Angelo Mathews (Captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Akila Dananajaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Ashan Priyanjan, Thikshila De Silva, Shiran Fernando, Himesh Ramanayake, Jehan Daniel, Jeffrey Vandersay, Ravindu Fernando

Overseas Players – Tom Banton (England), Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies), Keemo Paul (West Indies), David Wiese (Namibia), Ravi Rampaul (West Indies), Naveen Ul Haq (Afghanistan)

Possible first-choice XI – Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal (C), Tom Banton, Sherfane Rutherford, David Wiese, Seekkuge Prasanna, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Naveen Ul-Haq, Shiran Fernando,

Dambulla Giants

Dambulla Giants will be led by the current Sri Lanka T20I Captain. Following a rather under-performed ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Shanaka will be looking to regain his form. Under his leadership, Chennai Braves had a torrid start to the Abu Dhabi T10 League. However, in familiar conditions, Shanaka is a genuine match-winner.

Following the Durham Bio-Bubble Breach, Niroshan Dickwella is back playing competitive Cricket and will need a strong LPL 2021 performance to make a statement. Exciting fast-bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne will be expected to play the entire competition, having missed out last season.

Photos – Media Conference on LPL 2021

Ramesh Mendis, fresh from a brilliant performance in the Test series vs West Indies, will be looking to partner up with Tahir. Uncapped local batter Nuwanidu Fernando has been in great nick and should be playing most of the season for Dambulla Giants, along with uncapped ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake.

The addition of Phil Salt to the squad adds plenty of depth in the Dambulla squad, while the experience of Imran Tahir, Marchant De Lange will be crucial for their success. Afghanistan’s Najibullah Zadran is a serious six-hitter and Ireland’s left-arm seamer Josh Little is another exciting talent in the Dambulla ranks.

Local Players – Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Chamika Karunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Nuwan Pradeep, Ramesh Mendis, Tharindu Rathnayake, Lahiru Udara, Sacha De Alwis, Muditha Lakshan, Kalana Perera, Sachitha Jayathilake, Madushan Ravichandrakumar, Janith Liyanage, Chamikara Edirisinghe, Dilshan Munaweera, Nuwanidu Fernando

Overseas Players – Imran Tahir (South Africa), Sohaib Maqsood (Pakistan), Phil Salt (England), Marchant De Lange (South Africa), Josh Little (Ireland), Najibullah Zadran (Afghanistan)

Possible first-choice XI – Niroshan Dickwella, Phil Salt, Dilshan Munaweera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka (C), Najibullah Zadran, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Marchant De Lange, Imran Tahir, Nuwan Pradeep

Kandy Warriors

Kandy Warriors on paper could well be the weakest squad in terms of fire-power, experience and depth. But, under Angelo Perera, who has been one of the most successful domestic Captains in Sri Lanka, Kandy Warriors could well be the dark horses of the Lanka Premier League 2021.

Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka’s best batter from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, holds the key in the middle overs. Kandy Warriors could well be expecting another solid performance from him with the bat.

Lahiru Kumara and Binura Fernando will partner up with Bangladesh seamer Al-Amin Hossain. In terms of experience in the bowling unit, the Kandy Warriors are a tad weak. The uncapped left-arm spinning duo, Nimesh Vimukthi and Shashika Dulshan will need to do extremely well to stop other teams from exploiting the middle overs.

LPL 2021 Captains and Coaching Staff confirmed

Most of the Kandy Warriors’ foreign players such as Ahmed Shehzad, Kennar Lewis and Devon Thomas are opening batters in T20 Cricket; therefore, finalizing the playing XI will be a little tough for Kandy Warriors management.

Local Players – Angelo Perera (Captain), Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Asela Gunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Ishan Jayaratne, Nimesh Vimukthi, Kalhara Senaratne, Ayana Siriwardena, Shashika Dulshan, Sachindu Colombage, Minod Bhanuka, Tillakaratne Sampath, Milinda Siriwardena, Binura Fernando

Overseas Players – Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan), Rovman Powell (West Indies) Devon Thomas (West Indies), Al-Amin Hossain (Bangladesh), Kennar Lewis (West Indies), Shiraz Ahmed (UAE)

Possible first-choice XI – Kamil Mishara, Kennar Lewis, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Perera, Rovman Powell, Kamindu Mendis, Asela Gunaratne, Ishan Jayaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Al-Amin Hossain, Shashika Dulshan

Match Fixtures

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