Lanka Premier League 2023

The Lanka Premier League 2023 was notably distinguished as a robust chapter within the timeless saga of cricket. This renowned occasion facilitated the convergence of skill, tactics, and enthusiasm, situated amidst the scenic ambiance of Sri Lanka’s emblematic cricket arenas. Teams from various parts of the island congregated, showcasing their impressive cricketing skills, thereby presenting the spectators with a remarkable exhibition of T20 cricket. Featuring a synergistic amalgamation of experienced professionals and promising novices, the league assured an exceptional tournament replete with latent opportunities and an exhilarating quest for the highly coveted championship. As we explore the noteworthy facets and narratives that characterized the present season, we observe the unfolding of a cricketing spectacle that enthralled the imagination of both supporters and participants.

Lanka Premier League 2023 Venues

The 2023 iteration of the Lanka Premier League demonstrated the profound enthusiasm for cricket in Sri Lanka, exhibited through events held at two predominant venues. In the realm of literary considerations, one can discern the thematic motif referred to as the “R. " The Premadasa Stadium, located in Colombo, has gained a reputation for its vibrant ambiance and substantial seating capacity of 35,000 spectators. Over the years, it has served as the venue for a multitude of thrilling and intense sporting contests. The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, akin to its Colombo counterpart, exhibited commensurate capacity and exhilaration, providing enthusiastic cricket spectators in the Central Province with an electrifying live match encounter.

Teams

During the current sporting season, the Colombo Strikers, a team newly established in 2023, participated in competitive matches under the astute leadership of Niroshan Dickwella as the team’s strategic captain, complemented by the seasoned coaching expertise of Simon Helmot. In conjunction with them, the Dambulla Aura, spearheaded by Kusal Mendis and guided by Avishka Gunawardene in a coaching capacity, endeavored to establish a noteworthy presence, while the Galle Titans, captained by Dasun Shanaka, aspired to commemorate the Southern Province with esteemed accolades. The Jaffna Kings, under the leadership of Thisara Perera, and B-Love Kandy, captained by Wanindu Hasaranga, made valuable contributions to enhance the competitive nature of the league.

Sri Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 Squads

Colombo Strikers

• Captain: Niroshan Dickwella
• Players: Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunarathne, Pathum Nissanka, Lakshan Sandakan, Nipun Dhananjaya, Movin Subasingha, Lahiru Udara, Eshan Malinga, Shashika Dulshan, Nuwanidu Fernando, Iftikhar Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Kavishka Anjula, Ramesh Mendis, Mohammad Nawaz, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Imam Ul Haq, Shoriful Islam

Dambulla Aura

• Captain: Kusal Mendis
• Players: Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Hayden Kerr, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Binura Fernando, Noor Ahmad, Sachitha Jayathilake, Janith Liyanage, Dushan Hemantha, Pramod Madushan, Shahnawaz Dahani, Lakshan Edirisinghe, Jehan Daniel, Wanuja Sahan, Kavidu Pathirana, Ravindu Fernando, Alex Ross, Treveen Mathew, Manelker de Silva, Praveen Jayawickrama, Ben McDermott

Galle Titans

• Captain: Dasun Shanaka
• Players: Shakib Al Hasan, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bhanuka Rajapaksha, Seekuge Prasanna, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Croospulle, Sohan de Livera, Ashan Priyanjan, Mohammad Mithun, Minod Bhanuka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Shevon Daniel, Mohamed Shiraz, Lahiru Samarakoon, Kasun Rajitha, Akila Dananjaya, Chad Bowes, Tim Seifert, Sonal Dinusha, Avishka Perera, Anuk Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Milan Rathnayake, Liton Das, Richard Ngarava

Jaffna Kings

• Captain: Thisara Perera
• Players: David Miller, Maheesh Theekshana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage, Shoaib Malik, Pathum Kumara, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Theesan Vithushan, Asanka Manoj, Nishan Madushka, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka, Hardus Viljoen, Ashan Randika, Ratnarajah Thenurathan, Chris Lynn, Asela Gunaratne, Nandre Burger, Towhid Hridoy

B-Love Kandy

• Captain: Wanindu Hasaranga
• Players: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fakhar Zaman, Angelo Mathews, Isuru Udana, Dinesh Chandimal, Mohammad Hasnain, Dushmantha Chameera, Sahan Arachchige, Ashen Bandara, Asif Ali, Navod Paranavithana, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Kamindu Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Chaturanga de Silva, Lahiru Madushanka, Aamer Jamal, Malsha Tharupathi, Thanuka Dabare, Lasith Abeyratne, Avishka Tharindu

Upon reflection, the roster of the Colombo Strikers during the 2023 season encompassed a fusion of eminent domestic players and renowned international athletes, among whom the noteworthy inclusion of Babar Azam and Naseem Shah contributed significantly to augmenting the team’s overall prowess and ability. The squad of Dambulla Aura demonstrated a remarkable level of consistency through the exceptional performances of Kusal Mendis, who was adeptly supported by Avishka Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva. The Galle Titans demonstrated a versatile squad, supported by the multifaceted abilities of Dasun Shanaka and Shakib Al Hasan. The Jaffna Kings, known for their experienced players such as David Miller and Shoaib Malik, demonstrated their exceptional capabilities as potential champions. Throughout the tournament, B-Love Kandy demonstrated a fusion of experience embodied by Angelo Mathews and the exuberant energy of Wanindu Hasaranga, culminating in a narrative that encapsulated their ambitious aspirations and inherent potential.

Player Auction

Each of the five franchises was assigned a disbursement limit of US$500,000. Renowned cricket figures such as Wasim Akram and Angelo Mathews comprised the pool of players accessible for bidding during this auction, while Charu Sharma, a highly esteemed cricket commentator hailing from India, served as the principal auctioneer.

The composition of each team’s roster was intended to encompass a range of 20 to 24 players. The stipulation entailed a compulsory inclusion of a total of six foreign players, in conjunction with a range of 14 to 19 domestic players. The allocation of funds for pre-signing players was non-transferrable to the auction, with any financial backing for right-to-match options for players required to be derived from the auction budget.

The auction utilized a bidding structure in which, at any given moment, only two teams engaged in a bidding war. A third party could solely participate in the bidding process once either of the two initial teams withdrew. Following the presentation of the initial 70 names eligible for bidding, an “accelerated” auction phase was initiated. During this phase, the franchises were granted the autonomy to select a range of 15 to 20 players, comprising both those who were unsold previously and new prospects, to participate in the bidding process.

The participants were divided into two clearly defined groups - those who had reached the maximum number of playing appearances (capped players) and those who had not yet achieved this milestone (uncapped players). The capped players were provided with the opportunity to register their services at specified minimum prices, encompassing a spectrum ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, with uniform steps of $10,000. Conversely, a minimum price of $20,000 was established for uncapped players boasting a record of at least 50 first-class matches. Similarly, players with a minimum of either 25 first-class matches or 18 matches in the LPL or a comparable T20 franchise league were subject to a base price of $10,000. Finally, individuals failing to meet any of the aforementioned criteria were afforded a base price of $5,000.

A noteworthy aspect of the auction was the bidding process for Dilshan Madushanka, who garnered the highest valuation among the players, ultimately securing a bid of $92,000 from the Jaffna Kings. Chad Bowes of New Zealand attracted considerable attention in the realm of international cricket as he emerged as the most valuable overseas player in the auction, commanding a bid of $58,000. This bid sparked discussions due to Bowes’ limited track record on the international stage which remains untested.

Furthermore, it has been observed that specific esteemed international players such as Rassie van der Dussen were disregarded by the proprietors of the franchise. This situation can be ascribed to their involvements in various T20 leagues such as the Global T20 Canada, where the timing of events coincided with the schedule of the Lanka Premier League, thus resulting in a conflict in terms of player availability.

LPL 2023 Fixtures & Schedule

Points Table

Conclusion

The conclusion of the Lanka Premier League 2023 brought forth an array of captivating cricket matches, which served as a platform to exhibit both local and international players’ exceptional abilities on the Sri Lankan terrain. The aforementioned event, whose duration extended over several weeks, not only served as an avenue for domestic players to exhibit their talent but also introduced the captivating presence of renowned international cricket icons. Every individual match added to the intricate fabric of the tournament’s historical narrative, providing fans with notable occurrences and fervent competition in the realm of cricket. The culmination of exceptional skill and sportsmanship witnessed during the finale resulted in one team achieving ultimate success, thereby leaving the remaining teams with anticipation and aspiration for future endeavors. The Sri Lankan Premier League (LPL) in 2023 serves as a vivid illustration of the profound affection Sri Lanka holds for the sport of cricket, resonating within arenas, residences, and the devotion of innumerable supporters. With a mounting sense of anticipation surrounding the upcoming season, the LPL assures a resumption characterized by heightened enthusiasm and thrill.