West Indies T20 specialists like Carlos Brathwaite, Evin Lewis were among the highest-priced international acquisitions during the 3rd edition of Lanka Premier League Player draft.
The players’ draft for the third edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2022 happened on Tuesday (July 5).
Each of the five franchises allowed to pick six international players, with one from each price category barring Gold and Silver.
The pre-draft portion of the squad selection, however, meant that for many of the teams the top-tier draft picks had been decided well in advance of the draft proper.
The draft included players in seven price points: Ruby (US$ 60,000) Sapphire ($ 50,000), Diamond A ($ 40,000), Diamond B ($ 25,000), Platinum ($ 15000), Gold ($ 10,000) and Silver ($ 3000).
353 players registered for the draft, including 180 foreign players and 173 local players. Each franchise picked 20 players from the draft, with 14 of them having to be local players and the 6 others having to be overseas players.
End of the players’ draft, 9 Pakistani players, 7 West Indian players, 5 South African players, 4 players from Afghanistan, 3 Australian players and one player each from New Zealand and Nepal were divided for the Lanka Premier League this year.
Amoung the drafted 7 West indies Players, Former West Indies T20I captain Carlos Brathwaite, who has amassed 2,240 runs, 214 wickets in more than 200 T20 career appearances and his teammates like all rounder Fabian Allen (USD 50,000), Andre Fletcher (USD 40,000) were picked up by Kandy Falcons.
While West indies opener Evin Lewis – who played for LSG in IPL 2022 – was picked up by Jaffna Kings, Sherfane Rutherford drafted by Galle Gladiators (USD 25,000).
Meanwhlie, West Indian Allrounder Dominic Drakes, who was member of IPL Winners this year (Gujarat Titans) drafted by Colombo stars (USD 40,000). Also, Sheldon Cottrel Will be join with Dambulla Giants (USD 15000)
The 3rd edition of the Lanka Premier League, will commence on the 6th of December 2022.
This year’s edition will be played across 3 venues, namely MRICS, Hambantota; PKICS, Kandy; and RPICS, Colombo.
The tournament will kick off with matches played in MRICS, Hambantota, and then move to PKICS,Kandy, before shifting to RPICS, Colombo, to play the last leg of the first round matches of the tournament, including the eliminator round and the finals.
The opening game of the tournament will be played between reigning champions Jaffna and the runner-up of the 2021 edition, Team Galle.
Here are the final 20-member squads of each franchise,
Galle Gladiators Squad: Imad Wasim, Danushka Gunathilaka, Faheem Ashraf, Dushmantha Chameera, Janneman Malan, Sherfane Rutherford, Azam Khan, Kusal Mendis, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Thushara, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Pulina Tharanga, Nuwanidu Fernando, Nimesh Vimukthi, Movin Subasinhga, Nipun Malinga, Sachindu Colombage, Lakshan Gamage, Tharindu Kaushal, Sammu Ashan
Jaffna Kings Squad: Evin Lewis, Thisara Perera, Hardus Viljoen, Dhananjaya de Silva, Shoaib Malik, Shahnawaz Dahani, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Tristan Stubbs, Praveen Jayawickrama, Suminda Lakshan, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dilshan Madushanka, Nipun Dananjaya, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Theesan Vidushan, Theivendiram Dinoshan, Ashan Randika
Colombo Stars Squad: Dwaine Pretorius, Angelo Mathews, Asif Ali, Charith Asalanka, Dominic Drakes, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Karim Janat, Seekkuge Prasanna, Jeffrey Vandersay, Ishan Jayaratne, Muditha Lakshan, Lakshitha Manasinghe, Kevin Koththigoda, Chathuranga Kumara, Navod Paranavithana, Chamod Battage
Dambulla Giantsb Squad: D’Arcy Short, Dasun Shanaka, Ben Cutting, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Sandeep Lamichhane, Tim Seifert, Haider Ali, Chaturanga de Silva, Ramesh Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Sheldon Cottrell, Tharindu Ratnayake, Pramod Madushan, Lasith Croospulle, Kalana Perera, Dilum Sudeera, Sachitha Jayathilake, Dushan Hemantha, Sacha De Alwis, Ravindu Fernando
Kandy Falcons Squad: Carlos Brathwaite, Wanindu Hasaranga, Fabian Allen, Chamika Karunaratne, Andre Fletcher, Dewald Brevis, Chris Green, Isuru Udana, Matheesha Pathirana, Ashen Bandara, Usman Shinwari, Kamindu Mendis, Ashan Priyanjan, Minod Bhanuka, Avishka Perera, Ashian Daniel, Malinda Pushpakumara, Janith Liyanage, Lasith Abeyratne, Kavin Bandara