Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2020: Final squads of all the teams

Cricket is slowly resuming in all the countries now amid COVID-19 pandemic. Though the matches are being played behind the closed doors the tournaments are providing the much-needed entertainment to the fans. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is in progress now and will go on until November 10. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced its very own one of a kind T20 League which is set to commence on November 21.

The players draft took place for the tournament on Monday with as many 438 cricketers expressing their interest to feature. A total of five teams namely – Colombo Kings, Dambulla Hawks, Jaffna Stallions, Galle Gladiators and Kandy Tuskers – will be locking horns for the ultimate glory. As many as 90 players including some of the top foreign cricketers were picked by these teams in the draft.

Interestingly, T20 freelancers from India, Manpreet Gony and Manvinder Bisla were also picked. Both the players will feature for the Colombo Kings alongside Faf du Plessis and Andre Russell.

Chris Gayle to play for Kandy Tuskers

Among 23 prominent overseas players will feature across five teams and among them is the Universe Boss Chris Gayle. Kandy Tuskers secured his services and the other foreign players in the team are Liam Plunkett, Wahab Riaz and Naveen-ul-Haq. The team also comprises of top Sri Lanka players like Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Asela Gunaratne and Dilruwan Perera among others.

Lasith Malinga who skipped playing the IPL this season is the marquee player for Galle Gladiators. The likes of Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Colin Ingram, Hazratullah Zazai and Sarfaraz Ahmed will play with him in the same team. Among other teams, Dawid Malan and Shoaib Malik will share the dressing room for Jaffna Stallions while Samit Patel, David Miller and Caros Brathwaite will be teammates for Dambulla Hawks.

SLC is yet to announce the schedule of LPL but is determined to make it happen this time around. Given the history of Sri Lanka‘s T20 competition, the fans will be hoping that the tournament finally gets underway on November 21 without further postponements.

Here are final squads for all teams in LPL 2020:

Colombo Kings

Local players: Angelo Mathews, Isuru Udana, Dinesh Chandimal, Amila Aponso, Ashan Priyanjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Jeffery Vandersay, Thikshila de Silva, Pht Kaushal, Lahiru Udara, Himesh Ramanayka, Kalana Perera, Tharindu Rathnayaka, Navod Paranawithana.

Overseas players: Andre Russell, Faf du Plessis, Manpreet Singh Gony, Manvinder Bisla, Ravinderpal Singh

Dambulla Hawks

Local players: Dasun Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Kumara, Oshada Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Madushanka, Upul Tharanga, Angelo Perera, Ramesh Mendis, Pulina Tharanga, Ashen Bandara, Dilshan Madushanka, Sachindu Colombage.

Overseas players: David Miller, Carlos Brathwaite, Samit Patel, Paul Stirling.

Galle Gladiators

Local players: Lasith Malinga, Danushka Gunatilleka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Akila Dananjaya, Milinda Siriwardena, Lakshan Sandakan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Mohomed Shiraz, Dhanjaya Lakshan, Chanaka Ruwansiri.

Overseas players: Shahid Afridi, Colin Ingram, Hazratullah Zazai, Mohammad Amir, Sarfraz Ahmed, Azam Khan.

Jaffna Stallions

Local players: Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Avishka Fernando, Dananjaya de Silva, Suranga Lakmal, Binura Fernando, Minod Bhanuka, Chathuranga de Silva, Mahesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka, Nuvinidu Fernando, Kanagaratnam Kapilraj, Theivendiram Dinoshan, Yiyakanth Yiyaskanth.

Overseas players: Dawid Malan, Shoaib Malik, Usman Shinwari, Asif Ali.

Kandy Tuskers

Local players: Kusal Janith Perera, Kusal Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Seekkuge Prasanna, Asela Gunerathne, Kamindu Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Priyamal Perera, Kavisha Anjula, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Samarakoon, Nishan Madushka Fernando, Chamika Edirisinghe, Ishan Jayaratne.

Overseas players: Chris Gayle, Liam Plunkett, Wahab Riaz, Naveen-ul-Haq.