COLOMBO: A total of 13 Pakistan cricketers were roped in for the upcoming fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) after the player auction took place here on Wednesday.
The fourth edition of the LPL will run from July 31 to August 22 and will feature five teams competing for the silverware.
More than 500 players from different countries registered themselves for the LPL auction, which took place here on Wednesday.
Notably, before the auction took place, some of Pakistan’s notable cricketers had already found new homes in the LPL. Leading the charge is the formidable Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, who will be representing the Colombo Strikers.
Joining Babar in the LPL was the young and fiery fast bowler, Naseem Shah, who had also been acquired by the Colombo franchise.
Another key addition to the LPL is the explosive batsman, Fakhar Zaman, who will be donning the colours of the B-Love Kandy team.
Meanwhile, in the LPL auction that took place yesterday, all five franchises participating in the tournament had a total prize purse of $500,000 at their disposal to acquire talented players from around the world.
Consequently, a total of 13 Pakistan players were bought by the LPL franchises in different categories which include Iftikhar Ahmed, Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik.
Whereas, some other prominent names from Pakistan – Imad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Azam Khan, Haider Ali, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal and Faheem Ashraf – went unsold in the LPL auction.
Pakistan Players to participate in LPL 2023
B-Love Kandy: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hasnain, Asif Ali, Mohammad Haris, Aamer Jamal
Colombo Strikers: Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Wahab Riaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz
Jaffna Kings: Shoaib Malik, Zaman Khan
Complete squads
B-Love Kandy: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wanindu Hasaranga, Fakhar Zaman, Angelo Mathews, Isuru Udana, Dinesh Chandimal, Mohammad Hasnain, Dushmantha Chameera, Sahan Arachchige, Ashen Bandara, Mohammad Haris, Navod Paranavithana, Asif Ali, Kamindu Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Chaturanga de Silva, Lahiru Madushanka, Aameer Jamal, Malsha Tharupathi, Thanuka Dabare, Lasith Abeyrathne, Avishka Tharindu
Jaffna Kings: David Miller, Thisara Perera, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Maheesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage, Shoaib Malik, Pathum Kumara, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Theesan Vithushan, Asanka Manoj, Nishan Madushka, Asitha Fernando, Hardus Viljoen, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka, Zaman Khan, Ashan Randika, Ratnarajah Thenurathan, Chris Lynn, Asela Gunarathne
Dambulla Aura: Mathew Wade, Kusal Mendis, Lungi Ndidi, Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Hayden Kerr, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Binura Fernando, Noor Ahmad, Sachitha Jayathilaka, Janith Liyanage, Dushan Hemantha, Pramod Madushan, Shanawaz Dasani, Lakshan Edirisinghe, Jehan Daniel, Wanuja Sahan, Kavidu Pathirathna, Ravindu Fernando, Alex Ross, Treveen Mathew, Manelker de Silva, Praveen Jayawcikrama
Colombo Strikers: Babar Azam, Matheesha Pathirana, Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Wahab Riaz, Lakshan Sandakan, Nipun Dananjaya, Movin Subasinghe, Lahiru Udara, Eshan Malinga, Sashika Dulshan, Nuwanidu Fernando, Iftikhar Ahmad, Lorcan Tucker, Jeffrey Vandersay, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Kanishka Anjula, Ramesh Mendis, Mohammad Nawaz, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Yashoda Lanka,
Galle Titans: Shakib Al Hasan, Dasun Shanaka, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Croospulle, Sohan de Livera, Ashan Priyanjan, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Mithun, Minod Bhanuka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Shevon Daniel, Mohomed Shiraz, Lahiru Samarakoon, Kasun Rajitha, Akila Dananjaya, Chad Bowes, Tim Seifert, Sonal Dinusha, Avishka Perera, Anuk Fernando, Vishwa Fernando