A Sports
What is the Lanka Premier League?
The Lanka Premier League (LPL) is a franchise T20 competition organized by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The inaugural season was held in 2020, and 2024 marks the fifth edition of the tournament. This year, former Australia captain Michael Clarke serves as the brand ambassador.
How many teams are there in LPL 2024?
LPL 2024 features five teams: Colombo Strikers, Dambulla Sixers, Galle Marvels, Jaffna Kings, and Kandy Falcons.
What is the schedule?
LPL 2024 will kick off on July 1, with the final scheduled for July 21 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator will take place on July 18, and Qualifier 2 on July 20. You can check out the full schedule here.
What are the venues?
Three venues will host the 24 T20 matches:
- Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele (July 1-3)
- Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla (July 5-10)
- R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (July 13-21)
What is the structure of the tournament?
The top four teams will advance to the playoffs. Qualifier 1 will feature the 1st and 2nd placed teams, with the winner proceeding to the final. The loser will face the winner of the Eliminator (3rd vs 4th) in Qualifier 2. The victor of Qualifier 2 will then compete against the winner of Qualifier 1 in the final.
Who are the defending champions and the most successful team in the league?
B-Love Kandy won the 2023 edition, defeating Dambulla Aura in the final. The Jaffna Kings are the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won it three times. Galle Gladiators have been runners-up twice, while Colombo Stars were finalists in 2022.
Where can I watch these matches?
All matches will be streamed on Fancode, with Star Sports Network providing telecast coverage. There will be eight double-headers, with day matches starting at 3 PM IST and night games at 7:30 PM IST.
What are some of the controversies?
Dambulla Aura, initially purchased by Imperial Sports Group, was terminated after co-owner Tamim Rahim was arrested for match-fixing. The franchise is now owned by Sequoia Consultants through DeSilva Holdings and has been renamed Dambulla Sixers. B-Love Kandy was also terminated for violating contractual obligations and has been replaced by Kandy Falcons.
Who are the captains and head coaches of the teams?
- **Colombo Strikers**: Captain - Thisara Perera, Head coach - Carl Crowe
- **Dambulla Sixers**: Captain - Mohammad Nabi, Head coach - Rangana Herath
- **Galle Marvels**: Captain - Niroshan Dickwella, Head Coach - Graham Ford
- **Jaffna Kings**: Captain - Charith Asalanka, Head coach - Avishka Gunawardene
- **Kandy Falcons**: Captain - Wanindu Hasaranga, Head coach - Mushtaq Ahmed
Who are some of the expensive players in LPL 2024?
Matheesha Pathirana, a Sri Lankan pacer, was the most expensive player, picked by Colombo Strikers for USD 120,000. Afghanistan's Karim Janat was bought by Dambulla for USD 80,000, and Jaffna secured South African batter Rilee Rossouw for USD 60,000.
Are any new rules introduced?
Yes, new rules include the Power-Blast overs. During the 16th and 17th overs, only four fielders will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle. This is in addition to the powerplay rules, where only two fielders are permitted outside the circle in the first six overs.
Finally, what are the squads?
Each team can have 20-24 players, with a maximum of six overseas players. You can check out the complete squads here.
