Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shahid Afridi were among the high-profile signings at the Lankan Premier League (LPL) online draft organised this Monday (October 19).
For the five-team tournament set to kickstart from November 21, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) carried out a draft over the internet where it is learnt team owners weren't exactly clear on the draft rules and protocols.
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However, at the end of the day, the five squads were in place, pushing SLC's longstanding dream one step forward towards reality.
A report by ESPNcricinfo states, Pakistan pace legend Wasim Akram was present at the draft in his role as Galle Gladiators' mentor. The team share same owners Quetta Gladiators franchise in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Hashan Tillakaratne (coach, Kandy Tuskers), Thilina Kandamby (coach, Jaffna Stallions) were the two former Sri Lanka players also present and so was John Lewis, the English coach, part of the Dambulla Hawks set-up. Sri Lanka's ex-coach Dave Whatmore, although not present at the draft, is understood to be involved with the Colombo Kings.
"Each team had two foreign marquee picks - players whom each franchise approaches individually and signs up," the report stated. "There was one local marquee pick as well. The remaining players will be paid according to the value determined by the category they were chosen in the draft. Players drafted earlier are generally paid more."
Because of the misunderstanding around rules and the nature of the draft, there were hiccups to be seen at various stages. Nevertheless, teams did fill up their roster with 16 to 20 players, with some slots deliberately left open in hope to persuade more overseas players into filing those.
The competition set to run till December 13 will be played in Hambantota and later in Pallekele.
Regarding COVID-19 protocols, the report confirmed, "the Sri Lankan government has not approved lenient quarantine measure for those coming into the country for the tournament"; however, adding, "but SLC insists that the foreign players and officials taking part have all agreed to the strict 14-day quarantine, in which arrivals are not allowed to leave their rooms."
Here are the squads:
Jaffna Stallions: Thisara Perera, Dawid Malan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shoaib Malik, Usman Shinwari, Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Suranga Lakmal, Binura Fernando, Asif Ali, Minod Bhanuka, Chaturanga de Silva, Mahesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka, Nuvinidu Fernando, Kanagaratnam Kapilraj, Theivendiram Dinoshan, Yiyakanth Yiyaskanth
Dambulla Hawks: Dasun Shanaka, David Miller, Carlos Brathwaite, Samit Patel, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lahiru Kumara, Oshada Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Paul Stirling, Lahiru Madushanka, Upul Tharanga, Angelo Perera, Ramesh Mendis, Pulina Tharanga, Ashen Bandara, Dilshan Madushanka, Sachindu Colombage
Kandy Tuskers: Chris Gayle, Kusal Perera, Liam Plunkett, Wahab Riaz, Kusal Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Seekkuge Prasanna, Asela Gunaratne, Naveen-Ul-Haq, Kamindu Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Priyamal Perera, Kavishka Anjula, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Samarakoon, Nishan Fernando, Chamika Edirisinghe, Ishan Jayaratne
Colombo Kings: Andre Russell, Faf du Plessis, Angelo Mathews, Manpreet Singh Gony, Manvinder Bisla, Isuru Udana, Dinesh Chandimal, Amila Aponso, Ravinderpal Singh, Ashan Priyanjan, Dushmantha Chameera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Thikshila de Silva, Tharindu Kaushal, Lahiru Udara, Himesh Ramanayake, Kalana Perera, Tharindu Rathnayaka, Navod Paranawithana
Galle Gladiators: Lasith Malinga, Shahid Afridi, Colin Ingram, Mohammad Amir, Hazratullah Zazai, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Akila Dananjaya, Milinda Siriwardana, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Azam Khan, Lakshan Sandakan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Mohomed Shiraz, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Chanaka Ruwansiri, Sahan Arachchi
