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Lanka Premier League 2020 - Pre tournament thread

Sri Lanka Cricket remain hopeful that the inaugural Lanka Premier League will go ahead but are awaiting clearance from the country’s health ministry.

The franchise T20 competition is due to begin on November 21 but, as it stands, players arriving from overseas must spend a fortnight in quarantine ahead of the five-team tournament’s start date.

“We are a little worried about this LPL, as the health authorities have not still granted us the permission,” Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Mohan de Silva told Daily FT on Monday.

“The cricket will take place only in Hambantota and Pallekele, where the players will go into a bio-bubble. They will travel from Mattala airport to their hotel and from their hotel to the ground and back again. All this has been planned and discussed earlier with the authorities, including the security, army and health. Most of the players taking part in the IPL are coming from bubble to bubble.”
 
Sri Lanka delayed the Lanka Premier League cricket tournament on Friday for a third time and cut the number of venues to one from three as coronavirus infections surge.

The start of the 23-match league, which will feature Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, Shahid Afridi and Carlos Brathwaite, was put back six days to November 27, the cricket board said.

A statement said all the games will now be behind closed doors in the southern town of Hambantota with the final on December 17.
The league was originally scheduled for August but was moved to November 14 and then November 21 because of the pandemic.
 
Mohammad Amir, Sarfaraz Ahmad ,Wahab Raiz will miss LPL due to national duties
 
Former Sri Lanka cricketers Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara and Lanka de Silva have been appointed as support staff of the Kandy Tuskers for the LPL.

Earlier Hashan Tillekaratne was appointed head coach of the team .

Maharoof who last played for Sri Lanka in 2016, has been appointed as team manager cum cricket director. Maharoof played 22 Tests, 109 ODIs and 8 T20Is and was involved with cricket administration after his retirement.

He was the manager of the under-19 team last year including the last World Cup held in South Africa.

Kulasekara who last played international cricket in 2017, has been appointed as the bowling coach of the team. The veteran has 313 scalps across all formats for his country.

The LPL will be his first assignment as bowling coach in competitive cricket after retirement.

Former wicketkeeper/batsman Lanka de Silva has been appointed as fielding coach for the Kandy team which will be captained by Kusal Perera.

The Kandy Tuskers franchise belongs to Bollywood star Salman Khan’s family. Salman’s brother Sohail Khan and father Selim Khan were actively involved in selecting the squad.

Sohail has confirmed his brother Salman will be in Sri Lanka to watch the LPL live. This is Salman’s first involvement in cricket.

Meanwhile Upul Chandana has been appointed bowling coach of the Galle Gladiators team while former Pakistan wicket keeper batsman Moin Khan has been appointed head coach. The Galle team belongs to a Pakistan franchise.
 
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The Sports Minister is the son of the Prime Minister, the government has mucked up a lot of things..so they're trying to find some solace in having this. Most Sri Lankans are not very enthusiastic about it..
 
sl-fan-of-pak said:
The Sports Minister is the son of the Prime Minister, the government has mucked up a lot of things..so they're trying to find some solace in having this. Most Sri Lankans are not very enthusiastic about it..
Click to expand...

please don't talk about political things here. lot of Sri Lankan Cricket Fans waiting for this type of tournament
 
MenInG said:
Sri Lanka delayed the Lanka Premier League cricket tournament on Friday for a third time and cut the number of venues to one from three as coronavirus infections surge.

The start of the 23-match league, which will feature Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, Shahid Afridi and Carlos Brathwaite, was put back six days to November 27, the cricket board said.

A statement said all the games will now be behind closed doors in the southern town of Hambantota with the final on December 17.
The league was originally scheduled for August but was moved to November 14 and then November 21 because of the pandemic.
Click to expand...

Seems mind changed again? Thought only 1 venue but schedule in post above shows 3!
 
Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur has said that the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL) will help Sri Lankan cricket in the long run. Arthur said the league, which begins on November 26, will help in fast-tracking young players' development.

"I think the LPL is a very good initiative by the SLC and one that I think will bear fruit in the future by fast-tracking young players' development," the South African told cricket.lk.

Arthur, who had also coached Pakistan and South Africa national teams earlier, added, "There are many ways it enhances our player development with the most important one being teaching players how to perform under pressure as this is an art that comes with experience, the LPL will provide them with that opportunity."

The LPL will be held between November 26 and December 16 and will be played only at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota due to the Covid-19 restrictions.

"I have seen in leagues that I have been involved with around the world how the players grow because of the excitement of the pressure and expectations, the interaction with overseas players and coaches, and being around a professional environment," added Arthur.

https://www.indiatvnews.com/sports/...ket-in-the-long-run-feels-micky-arthur-664877
 
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LPL 2020 Salary cap breakdown: Check what each player is earning in Lankan Premier League

USD 60,000- DasunShanaka, Lasith Malinga, Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera

USD 50,000- Lendl Simmons, Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Mohammad Hafeez, David Malan, David Miller, Irfan Pathan, Andre Russel, Wanidu Hasaranga de Silva

USD 40,000- Sudeep Thyagi, Hazratullah Zazai, Liam Plunkett, Manprith Singh, Sohaib Malik, Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, KusalMendis, IsuruUdana, Avishka Fernando

USD 25,000- Samith Patel, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Johnson Charles, Uzman Shinwari, Lahiru Kumara, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwan Pradeep, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Oshada Fernando, AkilaDananjaya, Seekkuge Prasanna, AmilaAponso, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Milinda Siriwardana, AselaGunarathne, Ashan Priyanjan, Binura Fernando

USD 15,000- Brendon Taylor, Safraz Ahamed, Naveen Ul Haq, Raveendrapal Singh, Asif Ali, Paul Sterling, Azam Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Qais Ahmad, Kyle Abbot, Lahiru Madushanka, Lakshan Sandakan, Kamindu Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Duanne Oliver, Upul Tharanga, Shehan Jayasooriya, Dilruwan Perera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chathuranga de Silva, Angelo Perera, Asitha Fernando, Priyamal Perera, Thikshila de Silva, Minod Bhanuka, Ramesh Mendis, Nuwan Thushara, Kavishka Anjula, Tharindu Kaushal, Mahesh Theekshana, Pulina Tharanga, Mohammed Shiraz, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Udara, Charith Asalanka

3,000 USD – Ashen Bandara, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Lahiru Samarakoon, Himesh Ramanayaka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Chanaka Ruwansiri, Nishan Madushka, Kalana Perera, Kanakaratnam Kapilraj, Kavindu Naveeshan, Sahan Arachchi, Chamikara Edirisinghe, Tharindu Rathnayake, Thevendiram Dhinoshan, Sajindu Colombage, Duvindu Thilakaratne, Ishan Jayarathne, Navod Paranavithana, Yivakanth Viyaskanth
 
Reports indicate that Sarfaraz Ahmed has dropped out of the tournament.
 
Former South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs who was earlier announced as a Commentator for LPL, has now been appointed as the head coach of Colombo Kings franchise.

Gibbs was appointed after former England cricketer Kabir Ali withdrew from LPL due to testing positive for Covid.

“We are happy to have Herschelle Gibbs as our Head Coach. He is considered as one of the most talented cricketers from South Africa. Captain Angelo Mathews is also extremely excited to work with him and hopefully together they both can make the team win the trophy this year.” Shadab Jakarti, Director of Cricket, Colombo Kings said.

Meanwhile former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath has replaced Chaminda Vaas as the Assistant Coach of the Colombo Kings team.

Sri Lanka’s World Cup winning Cricketer Chaminda Vaas has pulled out from the tournament citing personal reasons.



http://www.newswire.lk/2020/11/18/lpl-commentator-gibbs-becomes-coach-herath-replaces-vaas/
 
Chris Gayle ruled out due to injury, malinga also has dropped out due to inadequate prep time.

Ravi Bopara has also ruled himself out, apparently he requested 100% of his salary upfront to play but was refused.

Not a good start to the lol, hasn’t even began yet.
 
Canada batsman Ravinderpal Singh, picked for Colombo Kings, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is self-isolating.
 
Sohail Tanveer who was set to represent the Kandy Tuskers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) has tested positive for COVID-19.
 
Colombo : Angelo Mathews, captain of the Colombo Kings team which arrived in the Island Nation last evening, said that the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will bring great value to Sri Lanka cricket. All team members, coaches and support staff started arriving in Sri Lanka from Wednesday onwards and the last batch checked in at Shangrila Resort in Hambantota by Thursday evening.

Angelo, who will be joining the team straight from the national team’s practice on November 22, 2020, said: “I am very excited about LPL and we, Colombo Kings, have got a fantastic team and an excellent coaching staff! This tournament will bring great value to Sri Lankan cricket and we appreciate the hard work and support of Sri Lankan Government, the Sports Minister Mr Namal Rajapaksa, health authorities, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and all involved in making this a reality. I am sure this will bring lot of joy and happiness to our fellow Sri Lankans.”

Colombo Kings CEO Mr K Ganapathy said: “I am glad to have such an amazing and dedicated team which lights up my spirit. I am quite confident that they will leave no stone unturned and perform to the best of their ability and win the trophy.”

The LPL is scheduled to kick-off from 26th November till December 16, 2020 at Mahinda Rajapaksha International Cricket Stadium (MRIC) in Hambantota. Five franchisee teams, named after Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna, will compete in 23 matches over a 15-day period for the title. Colombo will take on Kandy in the opening match and the final will be played on December 16, 2020. A galaxy of global stars which includes Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Irfan Pathan and many more will be taking part in the 15-day extravaganza.

THE SQUAD:
Angelo Mathews (C), Andre Russell, Manpreet Singh Gony, Laurie Evans, Daniel Bell Drummond, Isuru Udana, Dinesh Chandimal, Amila Aponso, Ashan Priyanjana, Ravinderpal Singh, Qais Ahmad, Dushmantha Chameera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Theekshila De Silva, PHT Kaushal, Lahiru Udara, Karim Khan Sadeq, Dhammika Prasad, Himesh Ramanayake, Kalana Perera, Tharindu Ratnayake and
Navod Paranavithana. Coach: Hershel Gibbs. Assistant Coach : Rangana Herath. Director : Shadab Jakati.
 
SLCric said:
Sohail Tanveer who was set to represent the Kandy Tuskers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) has tested positive for COVID-19.
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Sohail Tanvir will test again tomorrow.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sohail Tanvir who was set to represent the Kandy Tuskers in the Lanka Premier League has tested positive for COVID-19. He still hopes to play in the LPL and is due to have another test tomorrow <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LPLT20?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LPLT20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1329763933058715651?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Galle Gladiators name superstar Afridi as captain, Rajapaksa as vice-captain


The Galle Gladiators have announced former Pakistan Captain and star player Shahid Afridi as their captain for the first edition of Lanka Premier League (LPL) which will be played from November 26 to December 16 in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.
Galle Gladiators had initially planned to name Sarfaraz Ahmad, who also leads Quetta Gladiators, as their skipper but he has left with Pakistan team for their tour of New Zealand.

Thus, Afridi who was recently in action for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) play-offs has been named as the captain while Sri Lankan batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa will be the vice captain of the side.

Quetta Gladiators owner Nadeem Omar said he is delighted that Afridi has accepted the role of being the leader.

“Afridi is a global superstar and a great leader thus he is the perfect choice to lead Galle Gladiators in LPL,” Nadeem said.

“The plan was to have our regular captain Sarfaraz to lead the team but he was called for national duty and we wish him all the best. I believe Afridi’s experience will be great for all our foreign players and local Sri Lankan guys. I trust that he will be able to help us fight for the title and win it.”

Gladiators have replaced Sarfaraz Ahmad with young Pakistan batsman Ahsan Ali while West Indian batsman Chadwick Walton has come in as replacement of South African Colin Ingram, who went to play Big Bash.

Gladiators have also signed Quetta’s Abdul Nasir to promote the talent for the region and fast-bowler Waqas Maqsood as 21st and 22nd players respectively in the squad.

Meanwhile, Gladiators Head Coach Moin Khan stated that while the team suffered the absence of Ingram and Sarfaraz but he believes that the squad is still very strong because of good local players.

“After the LPL Draft, we lost Sarfaraz and Ingram but I believe our local Sri Lankan players are good enough to step up to the challenge,” Moin said.

“All around the T20 leagues, it’s the local players who decide the fate of a team. We’ve some amazing local players in Rajapaksa, Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuirya, Siriwardana, Akila Dhananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan and Asitha Fernando. There are also few surprise packages with us as well.

Gladiators will open their campaign on November 27 against Jaffna Stallions.

Squad: Shahid Afridi (Captain), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Vice-Captain), Lasith Malinga, Mohammad Amir, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Akila Dhananjaya, Milinda Siriwardena, Hazratullah Zazai, Ahsaan Ali, Azam Khan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Lakshan Sandakan, Asitha Fernando, Chadwick Walton, Mohammad Shiraz, Nuwan Thushara, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Chanaka Ruwansiri, Sahan Arachchi, Duwindu Tilkaratne, Abdul Nasir and Waqas Maqsood.

Team Management: Wasim Akram (Mentor), Moin Khan (Head Coach), Upul Chandana (Assistant Coach), Azam Khan (Team Manager)

IMG-20201121-WA0006.jpg
 
Colombo: The Lanka Premier League 2020 will have all the necessary measures in place to protect the absolute integrity of the tournament and will adopt a zero-tolerance policy against any wrongdoing.

Sri Lanka Cricket’s Anti-Corruption Unit (SLC ACU) in collaboration with the International Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ICC ACU) is administering the anti-corruption initiatives at the Lanka Premier League 2020, and relevant officials will be present and vigilant at every match, event and, official functions throughout the tournament at the Venue and the Hotel.

Whilst, the participants, (Players and officials) of the league are obliged to report any corrupt approaches, as and when it happens to the Anti-Corruption Managers (ACMs) appointed for the LPL, and such reports will be dealt with strict confidentiality by the Anti-Corruption Unit in place.

The SLC and ICC Anti-Corruption Units will maintain a 24x7 hotline during the entire period of the tournament to receive information pertaining to any suspicious or corrupt activity, and, also conduct Anti-Corruption Education Programs for all the players and officials, before commencing of the tournament.

They will also ensure to enforce SLC anti-corruption protocols within the players and match official areas at the venues.

Mr. Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket conducted a meeting with the team owners and officials on the 20th Friday, November 2020, and emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the tournament and sought their support towards it.

“We requested them to ensure that the players and officials, follow the anti-corruption protocols in place and, work towards holding a clean and fair tournament,’’ said Mr. Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket.

“Apart from the SLC and ICC Anti-Corruption Units, SLC will obtain the assistance of the Government’s Security agencies, as and when required to ensure that the tournament goes ahead without any corrupt activity,’’ said De Silva.

Moreover, participants of this tournament will be bound and required to comply with the provisions of the recently enacted "Prevention of Offences relating to Sports Act No 24 of 2019, by which any form of corruption in the game such as Match Fixing, Corruption, Illegal Manipulation, and Illegal Betting, is made as a criminal offense under the laws of Sri Lanka’’.
 
MenInG said:
Galle Gladiators name superstar Afridi as captain, Rajapaksa as vice-captain


The Galle Gladiators have announced former Pakistan Captain and star player Shahid Afridi as their captain for the first edition of Lanka Premier League (LPL) which will be played from November 26 to December 16 in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.
Galle Gladiators had initially planned to name Sarfaraz Ahmad, who also leads Quetta Gladiators, as their skipper but he has left with Pakistan team for their tour of New Zealand.

Thus, Afridi who was recently in action for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) play-offs has been named as the captain while Sri Lankan batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa will be the vice captain of the side.

Quetta Gladiators owner Nadeem Omar said he is delighted that Afridi has accepted the role of being the leader.

“Afridi is a global superstar and a great leader thus he is the perfect choice to lead Galle Gladiators in LPL,” Nadeem said.

“The plan was to have our regular captain Sarfaraz to lead the team but he was called for national duty and we wish him all the best. I believe Afridi’s experience will be great for all our foreign players and local Sri Lankan guys. I trust that he will be able to help us fight for the title and win it.”

Gladiators have replaced Sarfaraz Ahmad with young Pakistan batsman Ahsan Ali while West Indian batsman Chadwick Walton has come in as replacement of South African Colin Ingram, who went to play Big Bash.

Gladiators have also signed Quetta’s Abdul Nasir to promote the talent for the region and fast-bowler Waqas Maqsood as 21st and 22nd players respectively in the squad.

Meanwhile, Gladiators Head Coach Moin Khan stated that while the team suffered the absence of Ingram and Sarfaraz but he believes that the squad is still very strong because of good local players.

“After the LPL Draft, we lost Sarfaraz and Ingram but I believe our local Sri Lankan players are good enough to step up to the challenge,” Moin said.

“All around the T20 leagues, it’s the local players who decide the fate of a team. We’ve some amazing local players in Rajapaksa, Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuirya, Siriwardana, Akila Dhananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan and Asitha Fernando. There are also few surprise packages with us as well.

Gladiators will open their campaign on November 27 against Jaffna Stallions.

Squad: Shahid Afridi (Captain), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Vice-Captain), Lasith Malinga, Mohammad Amir, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Akila Dhananjaya, Milinda Siriwardena, Hazratullah Zazai, Ahsaan Ali, Azam Khan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Lakshan Sandakan, Asitha Fernando, Chadwick Walton, Mohammad Shiraz, Nuwan Thushara, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Chanaka Ruwansiri, Sahan Arachchi, Duwindu Tilkaratne, Abdul Nasir and Waqas Maqsood.

Team Management: Wasim Akram (Mentor), Moin Khan (Head Coach), Upul Chandana (Assistant Coach), Azam Khan (Team Manager)

View attachment 104646
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azam khan team manager ?
as well as player?
is it normal?
 
So how does a first time league with barely any international players gets a deal with the premier sports network Sky Sports in the UK while the likes of Gayle, Malinga, Wahab, Bopara have fallen out for one reason or the other just before it is about to start.

Meanwhile a league like PSL with some better overseas players claiming to be just behind IPL and maybe BBL for 5 continuous years did not manage to get a deal with SS in the UK for 5 years - With the 6th one around 3 months away and yet no idea if there will be one for that either.

How did this all happen?
 
Deewana Mastana said:
So how does a first time league with barely any international players gets a deal with the premier sports network Sky Sports in the UK while the likes of Gayle, Malinga, Wahab, Bopara have fallen out for one reason or the other just before it is about to start.

Meanwhile a league like PSL with some better overseas players claiming to be just behind IPL and maybe BBL for 5 continuous years did not manage to get a deal with SS in the UK for 5 years - With the 6th one around 3 months away and yet no idea if there will be one for that either.

How did this all happen?
Click to expand...

Credit to the marketing team of the Lanka Premier League for achieving this.

The problem that the PSL has had is that some broadcasters didn't trust them. That may change in future, but certainly in the past there were concerns over the professionalism of the PSL people.
 
Saj said:
Credit to the marketing team of the Lanka Premier League for achieving this.

The problem that the PSL has had is that some broadcasters didn't trust them. That may change in future, but certainly in the past there were concerns over the professionalism of the PSL people.
Click to expand...

Pakistan's major problem has always been professionalism and despite LPL having barely any English players is still getting a top quality broadcaster as Sky Sports in their first gig is phenomenal.
 
Pakistan's veteran wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal has withdrawn from LPL 2020 owing to a shoulder injury. The 38-year-old missed PSL 2020 playoffs and a few Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches due to the same reason.
 
COLOMBO (Web Desk) - Dale Steyn, the South Africa fast bowler, has confirmed he will join Kandy Tuskers for the Lanka Premier League (LPL), providing a lift for both the team and the league following a difficult week.

Over the last six days, Tuskers saw Chris Gayle - their highest profile player - withdraw from the tournament due to injury, before Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Tanvir tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving on the island, and entered treatment in isolation, which is expected to keep him out for at least 14 days. Steyn is essentially Tuskers replacement for Tanvir, and confirmed his signing on Twitter.

With Tuskers due to play the tournament s first game on November 26, Steyn is almost certain to miss part of the tournament while he undergoes quarantine, the team s assistant coach Farveez Maharoof said. "We will assess when he can start playing after he arrives," Maharoof said. "We ll have to talk to the health authorities before we make a final call."

Steyn, 37, last played a T20 at the end of October, for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. At Tuskers, he joins a pace attack featuring Nuwan Pradeep, Naveen-ul-Haq, Munaf Patel and Irfan Pathan. The LPL is set to run from November 26 to December 16, at the Sooriyawewa Stadium near Hambantota.


https://dunyanews.tv/en/Cricket/574572-Dale-Steyn-joins-Kandy-Tuskers-in-LPL
 
I think if psl took place post COVID sky probably would have bought the rights to the psl to, they would have been peanuts for someone like sky, and would have helped them fill the gaps in their broadcast schedule due to COVID, kudos to the LPL marketing team tho,brilliant coup from them.
 
LPL 2020: One Indian and few other players test Covid-19 positives in Lanka Premier League

LPL 2020 Rocked by Covid-19 : According to information coming in from Sri Lanka, an Indian, a Pakistan player and an Indian TV technician who came for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) have tested positive in a hotel at Hambantota today.

LPL organizers or Sri Lanka Cricket is yet to officially release the names of positive cricketers. 4 Indian cricketers Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Sudeep Tyagi & Manpreet Gony are currently participating in the inaugral Lanka League – but it is yet to be ascertained which one of them has got infected with Covid-19 virus.

Earlier Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Tanvir become the second player to test Covid-19 positive in the league. Ravinderpal Singh, a Canada batsman who had been picked by the Colombo Kings franchise had also tested positive. The two are being treated and isolated at a separate hotel from the remainder of the LPL’s players and coaching staff.

LPL 2020 : Tournament suffering big time because of withdrawals of star players

LPL 2020 Player Pullouts : The league has already lost its sheen as Sarfraz Ahmed, Chris Gayle also has pulled out of Lanka Premier League. Gayle was picked by Kandy Tuskers which is owned by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s family.

“We are sad to announce that Chris Gayle will not be playing for us in this year’s @LPLT20_,” Kandy Tuskers wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
Other than Gayle, another top player of the team Liam Plunkett, Lasith Malinga. Other than these 4 Ravi Bopara has also pulled out of the event.

Malinga’s withdrawal has come as more of a surprise to the organizers and Sri Lanka cricket. Malinga was one of the Galle Gladiators’ marquee players and was touted to take over the captainy role after forrmer Pakistan Captain Sarfraz Ahmed pulled out of the event on Tuesday.

https://www.insidesport.co/lpl-2020...t-covid-19-positives-in-lanka-premier-league/
 
MenInG said:
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Shahid Afridi missed his flight to Sri Lanka and will be unavailable for at least the first two matches of his franchise Galle Gladiators in the inaugural Lanka Premier League.

The former Pakistan captain tweeted about the incident, adding to the agony of the tournament organisers after a spate of heavyweight pullouts.

“Missed my flight to Colombo today morning. Nothing to worry, I’ll be reaching soon to take part in the LPL for Galle Gladiators. Look forward to joining my teammates,” Afridi wrote on his Twitter handle.

Galle Gladiators will play their first match on November 27 against Jaffna Stallions, a day after the inaugural season opener between Kandy Tuskers and Colombo Kings.

The Gladiators play their second and third matches on November 28 and 30 respectively.

Afridi was named the captain of Galle Gladiators after Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga and Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed made themselves unavailable due to lack of preparation and national commitments respectively.

In the absence of Afridi, vice-captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa could lead the Gladiators in the first few matches.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...tors-malinga-cricket-news/article33163046.ece
 
(Reuters) - The organisers of Sri Lanka’s new Twenty20 league are bullish about the franchise-based tournament despite a slew of teething problems that preceded its scheduled start on Thursday.

Multiple postponements, venue uncertainties and late withdrawals marred the build-up for Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) ambitious tournament which was originally scheduled to begin in late August.

SLC vice president Ravin Wickramaratne dismissed suggestions that the board should have waited for the COVID-19 pandemic to subside before launching the league.

“The game of cricket was stopped for a while following the pandemic outbreak, however, we cannot keep it on hold for more than this,” Wickramaratne, also the league’s tournament director, told Reuters in an email interview.

“None of us know for sure when this is going to end... this is the ‘New Normal’, we need to adapt to it.

“A T20 league of this nature has been a long-felt need for Sri Lanka Cricket, and postponing this for a further year or two is not going to help SLC’s forward journey.”

The SLC even considered hosting the five-team league in Malaysia or the United Arab Emirates while finalising quarantine arrangements with the country’s health ministry.

Nothing illustrated the league’s chaotic build-up like Herschelle Gibbs’ association with it.

The former South Africa player was first unveiled as a commentator but ended up being the Colombo Kings head coach following a series of coincidences.

Dav Whatmore was initially named the Colombo coach but following his withdrawal, the job was offered to former England bowler Kabir Ali.

Ali then contacted COVID-19 and was unavailable and Gibbs was roped in.

“Been an interesting day or two but so grateful to be head coach of [MENTION=5479]colombo[/MENTION]Kings,” an amused Gibbs tweeted after his appointment.

Earlier this month, Pallekele was dropped as a second venue as SLC decided to host the entire tournament in a bio-secure bubble in Hambantota.

League promoters Innovative Production Group (IPG) said they hardly had any choice.

“These are tough times for everyone,” IPG chief executive Anil Mohan told Reuters.

“Every country is doing their best to keep their people safe. Whatever is the protocol, we have to follow.”

The tournament lost some sheen with the late withdrawals of players like South African Faf du Plessis and West Indian Chris Gayle.

However, the league landed a title sponsor last week and lined up an impressive list of domestic and international broadcasters.

Sony Pictures Networks will broadcast the league through much of south Asia, including India, while Sky Sports have taken the rights for United Kingdom, Mohan said.

The league will be played behind closed doors with the final scheduled on Dec. 16.

“Most of the countries have used such leagues to build their teams in the shortest format of the game and I am sure LPL is going to build that path for Sri Lanka Cricket,” said SLC’s Wickramaratne.
 
The Lankan Premier League (LPL) management was jolted once more after Pakistan’s hard-hitting batsman Asif Ali opted out of the tournament. The 29-year-old followed Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal who had decided to skip the tournament due to a shoulder injury.

According to sources, Ali made the decision inorder to represent the Northern side in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam (QeA) Trophy. The batsman prioritised trophy matches over the league matches in Sri Lanka despite a deal to play for the Jaffna Stallions.

Ali has communicated personal reasons for his decision to opt-out of the tournament to the management of Jaffna Stallions. The batsman is currently featuring in QeA Trophy matches in Karachi. He is looking to make a comeback into the national side by putting in good performances in the domestic circuit.

Matches, scheduled to begin on November 26, are to be played at Hambantota stadium with no spectators allowed.

The league was postponed three times over the pandemic.

https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/news/detail/asif-ali-opts-for-qea-trophy-over-lpl
 
Mohammad Amir speaking to media

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.604%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/px9bxy" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.604%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/73ynr8" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
KingOfPakBreakfast said:
Looking at that picture, relatively speaking, Azam Khan seems to have lost more weight since the National t20. Well done to the lad and InshAllah by PSL 6 time he should be in decent shape. He's a wide boned lad but this work ethic to improve his fitness is a good sign
Click to expand...

Definitely looks like hes lost weight hopefully he can loose abit more come the psl 6
 
Lanka Premier League (LPL) has not even started but the tournament has made it to the news several times for various wrong reasons. After delays and a spate of pullouts, LPL’s image has taken further hit with the International Cricket Council (ICC) investigating an alleged attempt to fix the matches in the competition.

The inaugural edition of the tournament is scheduled to start on Thursday (November 26). The complaint alleges a former national cricketer approached a LPL player, and is being looked at by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), the mass-circulating Lankadeepa said.

“The former national player who allegedly made the approach is currently overseas,” the newspaper said, adding that he had once been accused, but later cleared, of match-fixing charges by the ICC.

The governing body of the game has said it would not discuss any ongoing investigation. The Sri Lanka board’s anti-corruption unit has declined to comment too. The LPL will be played without spectators in the stands but under the close scrutiny of the ICC anti-corruption officials, the national board and the sports ministry.

Last week, Sri Lanka’s former fast bowling coach Nuwan Zoysa said he would appeal a decision of an ICC-appointed tribunal which found him guilty of three offences relating to match-fixing after a two-year investigation. The match-fixing menace has become a major problem for Sri Lanka cricket.

Last year, they introduced a law against corruption in sport after then-sports minister Harin Fernando declared that the ICC considered Sri Lanka as the world’s most corrupt cricket nation.

LPL 2020 was initially scheduled to be played in August. However, its start was delayed three times because of coronavirus restrictions imposed by authorities. Apart from the delays, LPL has suffered several setbacks. Several high-profile names have pulled out of the competition. The likes of Chris Gayle, Lasith Malina, Liam Plunkett, Mohammad Hafeez, Faf du Plessis are some of the big names who have pulled out of the tournament.

A total of five franchisee teams, named after Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna will compete in 23 matches. Colombo will take on Kandy in the opening match of LPL at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota on November 26. Every day there will be doubleheaders till the semi-finals on December 13 and 14. The final will be played on December 16.

https://cricketaddictor.com/cricket...r-alleged-match-fixing-even-before-its-start/
 
Karachi: Galle Gladiators’ Mentor Wasim Akram will miss Lanka Premier League (LPL) which is scheduled to commence from tomorrow in Hambantota.

According to reports, Akram has informed Gladiators’ management that he will not be able to join them in Hambantota due to his mother’s illness.

It must be noted here that Nadeem Omar, who also owns a franchise in Pakistan Super League (PSL), is the owner of Galle Gladiators. Shahid Afridi will lead the side while other Pakistani players include Mohammad Amir, Azam Khan.
 
Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to reiterate that the 2nd edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be held during July and August 2021, as earlier announced.

Accordingly, the tournament will be held from 30th July to 22nd August 2021.

The inaugural edition of the LPL, Sri Lanka’s topmost domestic T20 league, with an international flavor, was conducted last year at the MRICS, Hambantota, with the participation of 05 teams.
The inaugural edition received wide-scale attention, and millions of fans from across the world viewed the tournament via Television and, Digital platforms, with 135 million viewers watching the finals.
The 2020 edition was held under a successful Bio-Bubble environment

Health protocols for the 2nd edition of the LPL will be, planned based on the directions of the Ministry of Health.
 
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