The Lanka Premier League 2024 (LPL) geared up inaugural edition and all the five teams Jaffna Stallions, Dambulla Hawks, Kandy Tuskers, Colombo Kings and Galle Gladiators have built their LPL 2024 squads.
The curtains are about to be raised soon as the Lankan league is all set to kick off on 21st November. There are 5 franchises from all over Sri Lanka to compete for the title and winning any tournament requires quality marquee players. Names like Faf Du Plessis, Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, David Miller have joined the league, but what came as an early shock for the fans and the franchises is that some of these players pulled out from the league.
It all started in 2011 when Sri Lanka introduced the Sri Lankan Premier League, however, it got cancelled in 2013, and terminated in 2014 due to lack of sponsorship. Although it’s not a lie that big player attracts sponsorship which SLPL failed to do so.
But better late than never this year a fresh start altogether from the Sri Lankan sports body to introduce Lankan Premier League and also open to big players around the world.
LPL 2024 draft was held on 19th October when 438 players went under the hammer which also included 75 foreign players. Players like Faf Du Plessis, Andre Russel, Manvinder Bisla, David Miller, Shahid Afridi, Dawid Malan, and Chris Gayle were the big names to be bought by the teams.
While everything was going smoothly, LPL 2024 was handed their first shock after Faf Du Plessis, Andre Russel, Dawid Miller, Dawid Malan, and Manvinder Bisla pulled out of the league. While Faf Du Plessis, Dawid Miller, and Dawid Malan pulled out due to confirmation of the series between South Africa and. England starting November. Andre Russel pulled out due to injury while the reason for Bisla’s exit is still unknown.
While the teams would have to look for a quick and matchable replacement for these key players, there are still the likes of Chris Gayle, and Shahid Afridi to grace the league.
LPL 2024 Squads
The list of players for each team in the Lanka Premier League 2024 (LPL) is as follows.
Colombo Kings LPL Squad
Captain= Angelo Mathews
| Andre Russell (Pulled Out) | Faf du Plessis (Pulled Out) | Angelo Mathews | Manpreet Singh Gony | Manvinder Bisla (Pulled Out) |
| Isuru Udana | Dinesh Chandimal | Amila Aponso | Ravinderpal Singh | Ashan Priyanjan |
| Dushmantha Chameera | Jeffrey Vandersay | Thikshila de Silva | Tharindu Kaushal | Lahiru Udara |
| Himesh Ramanayake | Kalana Perera | Tharindu Rathnayaka, | Navod Paranawithana |
2. Dambulla Hawks LPL Squad
Captain= To Be Announced
| Dasun Shanaka | David Miller (Pulled Out) | Carlos Brathwaite | Samit Patel | Niroshan Dickwella |
| Lahiru Kumara | Oshada Fernando | Kasun Rajitha | Paul Stirling | Lahiru Madushanka |
| Upul Tharanga | Angelo Perera | Ramesh Mendis | Pulina Tharanga | Ashen Bandara |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Sachindu Colombage |
3. Galle Gladiators LPL Squad
Captain= To Be Announced
| Lasith Malinga | Shahid Afridi | Colin Ingram | Mohammad Amir | Hazratullah Zazai |
| Danushka Gunathilaka | Bhanuka Rajapaksa | Akila Dananjaya | Milinda Siriwardana | Sarfaraz Ahmed |
| Azam Khan | Lakshan Sandakan | Shehan Jayasuriya | Asitha Fernando | Nuwan Thushara |
| Mohomed Shiraz | Dhananjaya Lakshan | Chanaka Ruwansiri | Sahan Arachchi |
4. Kandy Tuskers LPL Squad
Captain= To Be Announced
| Chris Gayle | Kusal Perera | Liam Plunkett | Wahab Riaz | Kusal Mendis |
| Nuwan Pradeep | Seekkuge Prasanna | Asela Gunaratne | Naveen-Ul-Haq | Kamindu Mendis |
| Dilruwan Perera | Priyamal Perera | Kavishka Anjula | Lasith Embuldeniya | Lahiru Samarakoon |
| Nishan Fernando | Chamika Edirisinghe | Ishan Jayaratne |
5. Jaffna Stallions LPL Squad
Captain= Thisara Perera
| Thisara Perera | Dawid Malan (Pulled Out) | Wanindu Hasaranga | Shoaib Malik | Usman Shinwari |
| Avishka Fernando | Dhananjaya de Silva | Suranga Lakmal | Binura Fernando | Asif Ali |
| Minod Bhanuka | Chaturanga de Silva | Mahesh Theekshana | Charith Asalanka | Nuvinidu Fernando |
| Kanagaratnam Kapilraj | Theivendiram Dinoshan | Yiyakanth Yiyaskanth |
Withdrawals of players from the tournament is a significant blow but still the all the five teams have managed to build strong squads for the Lanka Premier League 2024 (LPL).