Jaffna Kings – Galle Gladiators clash in LPL curtain raiser-by Dhammika Ratnaweera
Source:Dailynews
The third edition of the Lanka Premier League ( LPL) cricket tournament will commence today ) at three venues Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium Hambantota, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
This is the first time LPL the main franchise cricket tournament of Sri Lanka will be conducted at three venues Hambantota, Pallekele and Colombo and five teams will battle it out for this tournament which will commence today from Hambantota Said Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela.
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Five teams Colombo Stars, Aura Dambulla ,Galle Gladiators, Jaffna Kings and Kandy Falcons will compete in this tournament which attracts several international players from West Indies, England, Afghanistan, Netherlands, Pakistan, and New Zealand.
This time we had planned to conduct the third edition of the LPL last August but due to the country’s situation we had to postpone it to this December but all National players with International players are involved in this event said added Samantha Dodanwela who is doing his job as a tournament Director for the first time.
We had big challenges this time due to country’s economy crisis but we all work as a team to get success to arrange this event which is more important at this stage for the country as Doller crisis affecting the country.
Sri Lanka Cricket together with franchises are getting involved to conduct this event while the International media coverage will earn good revenue from this event .The players and most of the officials are staying at Hotel ShangriLa at Hambantota while local and foreign media coverage give more value to the event said Samantha Dodanwela who also an Exco member of the SLC.
The first stage of the LPL will kick off today while defending chamiins Jaffna Kings will meet Galle Gladiators in the opening fixture which will commence at 3pm while second game today Colombo Stars and Kandy Falcons will start at 7.30pm under lights.
The first stage at Hambantota will be from today (6) to 8 the while second stage at Pallekele will begin on 10 and go on till 14. The final stage at R.Premadasa International cricket stadium will be held from 17 to 23 with the grand final scheduled to be held on December 23
Angelo Matthews will lead Colombo Stars teams while Dasun Shanaka will lead the Aura Dambulla side.
Sri Lankan opener Kusal Mendis will captain the Galle Gladiators side Thisara Perera the dashing all rounder once again will lead the Jaffna Kings side. The champion leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga the present ICC T 20 number one bowler has extra responsibility as he will lead the new look Kandy Falcons side.
For the first time two foreign umpires will be in the umpires panel with local umpires to officiate this LPL Dodanwela the tournament Director said we will conduct opening ceremony today at 1.30pm while the grand closing ceremony will be on December 23. Three Brand Ambassadors Legends Sir Viviean Richards, Wasim Akram and Sanath Jayasuriya will add more glamour to the event.
Squads:
Colombo Stars: Angelo Mathews (Capt), Benny Howell (Eng), Romario Shephard (WI), Charith Asalanka, Dominic Drakes (WI), Ravi Bopara (Eng), Naveen Ul-Haq (Afg), Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Dinesh Chandimal, Karim Janat (Afg), Seeekuge Prasanna, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nishan Madushka, Muditha Lakshan, Lakshitha Manasinghe, Kevin Koththigoda, Chathuranga Kumara, Navod Paranavithana, Chamod Battage, Suranga Lakmal and Kasun Rajitha
Aura Dambulla: Dasun Shanaka (Capt),Sikandar Raza (Zim), Noor Ahamed (Afg), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Tom Abell (Eng), Jordon Cox (Eng), Haiden Ali (Pak), Lahiru Kumara, Ramesh Mendis, Chathuranga De Silva, Paul Van Meekeren (NED), Pramod Madushan, Lasith Croospulle, Tharindu Ratnayake, Dilum Sudeera, Sachitha Jayathilake, Dushan Hemantha, Shevon Daniel, Ravindu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe
Galle Gladiators: Kusal Mendis (Capt), Imad Wassim (Pak), Ifthikar Ahamed (Pak), Kusal Janith Perera, Mohammed Hasnain (Afg), Sarfaraz Ahamed (Pak), Azam Khan (Pak), Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Thushara, Anwar Ali (Pak), Nuwanidu Fernando, Nimesh Vimukthi, Pulina Tharanga, Movin Subasinghe, Nipun Malinga, Sachindu Colombage, Lakshan Gamage, Tharindu Kaushal and Sammu Ashan
Jaffna Kings: Thisara Perera (Capt), James Neesham (NZ), Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Eng), Dhananjaya De Silva, Shoaib Malik(Pak), James Fuller (NZ), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afg), Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Waqar Salamakiel (Afg), Suminda Lakshan, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Praveen Jayawickrama, Dilshan Madushanka, Nipun Dananjaya, Vijayajanth Viyaskanth, Theeshan Vithushan, Theivendram Dinoshan, Ashan Randika and Avishka Fernando
Kandy Falcons: Wanindu Hasaranga (Capt), Carlos Brathwaite (WI), Fabien Allen (WI), Chamika Karunaratne, Andre Fletcher (WI), Oshane Thomas (WI), Isuru Udana, Ashen Bandara, Najibulla Zadran (Afg), Ashan Priyaranjan, Minod Bhanuka, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Perera, Ashian Daniel, Malinda Pushpakumara, Janith Liyanage, Lasith Abeyratne, Kavin Bandara, Pathum Nissankna and Chamindu Wijesinghe.
