The fifth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will begin on July 1 with a host of international and Sri Lankan stars in action across three weeks of T20 action at three venues - Pallekele, Dambulla, and Colombo.
Some of the marquee international names from the five LPL franchises include Kiwi all-rounders Glenn Phillips and Mark Chapman, Bangladesh pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed, Pakistan stars Shadab Khan and Agha Salman, West Indies veterans Andre Fletcher and Fabian Allen as well as the famed Afghanistan spinners Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rehman and Noor Ahmad, and the South African duo of Rilee Rossouw and Reeza Hendricks.
The Sri Lankan presence in LPL 2024 includes the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Isuru Udana, Maheesh Theekshana and Kusal Mendis, among a host of other national team heavyweights.
It bears noting that ‘Dambulla Sixers’ is the new name for the Dambulla franchise after its take-over by Sequoia Consultants, a Los Angeles-based engineering consulting firm majority owned by Priyanga de Silva. The new franchise is being operated by a local company named DeSilva Holdings, "which was specifically set up for this purpose".
As the ownership of the Dambulla franchise has changed repeatedly since the tournament's first season in 2020, so too has its name - from Dambulla Viiking, to Dambulla Giants, to Dambulla Aura, to Dambulla Thunders and now to its latest iteration as Dambulla Sixers.
Sri Lanka Cricket had announced the news of new team ownership on June 5, about two weeks after the board was forced to terminate the previous ownership of the Dambulla franchise, because one of the team's Bangladeshi co-owners - Tamim Rahman of the Imperial Sports Group - was arrested by Sri Lanka police under the Prevention of Offences Related to Sports Act (read match fixing).
“The Lanka Premier League continues to highlight the exceptional talent of our cricket players, providing fans with yet another opportunity to see their favorite stars in action. As we embark on this significant fifth season, I extend my best wishes to all the participants, stakeholders, and our cherished fans,” said Samantha Dodewala, tournament director, LPL.
The league stage will run from July 1 to 16, with the five teams taking on each other twice during this period at the three venues – the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla and the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele, Kandy.
Anil Mohan Sankhdhar, founder and CEO of IPG Group, the official commercial rights holder of LPL 2024, stated, "The past four years have seen the Lanka Premier League garner an overwhelming response from the global cricket community, with fans eagerly watching some of the sport's biggest stars. As we enter our fifth season, I am confident that the LPL will not only continue to thrive but also provide an unparalleled platform for homegrown talent to rise and shine."
The playoffs, to be played at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, will begin on July 18, with the final scheduled on July 21.
- Log in to post comments