MUMBAI: Bollywood star Salman Khan’s family has bought the Kandy Tuskers franchise in the upcoming Lankan Premier League (LPL), reports Time of India.
The tournament that saw its player draft conducted over the last two days is slated to kick off its inaugural edition on November 21.
Salman Khan’s younger brother Sohail and father, noted script-writer Salim Khan, are part of the consortium – Sohail Khan International LLP – that has made the investment.
The Khans confirmed the development to TOI on Tuesday and said they “see a lot of potential” in the league.
Dubai-based Innovative Production Group was awarded the marketing and organisation rights to the LPL in August this year with the tournament earlier slated to be held in September. IPG was offered rights for licensing of franchises, broadcasting, production and ground rights of the event.
IPG CEO Anil Mohan has said all franchisees have been sold.
Speaking to NewsWire, Mohan said: “We will make a formal announcement through a press release in the coming days and I am glad to inform that all franchisees have been sold and we are extremely happy with the people, corporate and entities who have bought the teams.
“Contrary to speculations and rumours, we had to say no to many interested parties because we are looking for long-term commitments from everyone involved in the LPL. And we have backed each and every one who have shown that kind of commitment.”
The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy and Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota will host all 23 matches to be played in LPL 2020. Five teams named after the cities of Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna are participating in the league. The league is scheduled to be held from November 21 to December 13.
