The Lanka Premier League 2023 (LPL) is all set to take place from July 30 to August 20.
This will be the fourth edition of the Sri Lanka based franchise league after successfully hosting previous three editions.
The fourth edition?
Yes, this will be the fourth edition of the LPL, which was first launched back in the year 2018 by Sri Lanka Cricket and its inaugural season was later played in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then there have been three successful seasons hosted in three consecutive years.
What about the teams?
Just like in the previous editions, there will be five teams representing five Sri Lankan cities, who will participate in the LPL 2023 namely Jaffna Kings, Colombo Strikers, Galle Titans, Dambulla Aura and B-Love Kandy.
Any big stars?
The LPL 2023 will feature some of the biggest names in world cricket. The likes of Babar Azam, Shakib Al Hasan, David Miller, Matthew Wade, Mujeeb Ur Rahman will be in action in LPL 2023.
Who is the current champion?
Jaffna Kings are the defending champions. (Twitter)
Out of the five teams that have played in Lanka Premier League, the Jaffna based franchise has won each and every edition till date, one as the Stallions and twice as the Kings. Jaffna Kings are the current holders who defeated the Colombo Stars in the 2022 final to win their third consecutive LPL trophy.
What about the format?
As for the format, the Lanka Premier League continues to be played in a double round robin format with each team facing a team twice and playing a total of eight games in the league stage.
Overall, a total of 20 league matches will be played between July 30 and August 15, followed by another four matches in an IPL-like playoff comprising an Eliminator, two Qualifiers and the Final on August 20. There is a reserve day for the final, on August 21.
The teams finishing in the top four at the end of the league stage will go through to the playoffs.
Venue?
The third edition of the Lanka Premier League will be played across two venues. The initial five league games will be played in Colombo at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Following that the action will move to Pallekele where a total of eight games will be played before the tournament makes its return to Colombo for the remaining seven league matches and the playoffs.
Squads
The five captains of the Lanka Premier League strike a pose with the prestigious trophy at the iconic Lotus Tower. (Sri Lanka Cricket)
Jaffna Kings
Thisara Perera (c), David Miller, Maheesh Theekshana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 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 Gunaratne
Colombo Strikers
Babar Azam (c), Matheesha Pathirana, Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Wahab Riaz, Lakshan Sandakan, Nipun Dhananjaya, Movin Subasingha, Lahiru Udara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Eshan Malinga, Shashika Dulshan, Nuwanidu Fernando, Iftikhar Ahmed, Lorcan Tucker, Kavishka Anjula, Ramesh Mendis, Mohammad Nawaz, Yashodha Lanka, Angelo Perera
Dambulla Aura
Kusal Mendis (c), Matthew Wade, Lungi Ngidi, Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Hayden Kerr, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Binura Fernando, Noor Ahmad, Sachitha Jayathilake, Janith Liyanage, Dushan Hemantha, Pramod Madushan, Treveen Mathew, Shahnawaz Dahani, Lakshan Edirisinghe, Jehan Daniel, Wanuja Sahan, Kavidu Pathirana, Ravindu Fernando, Alex Ross, Manelker de Silva, Praveen Jayawickrama
Galle Titans
Dasun Shanaka (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lahiru Kumara, Shevon Daniel, Lasith Croospulle, Sohan de Livera, Ashan Priyanjan, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Mithun, Minod Bhanuka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Avishka Perera, Mohamed Shiraz, Lahiru Samarakoon, Kasun Rajitha, Akila Dananjaya, Chad Bowes, Tim Seifert, Sonal Dinusha, Vishwa Fernando, Anuk Fernando
B-Love Kandy
Wanidu Hasaranga (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 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, Aamer Jamal, Malsha Tharupathi, Thanuka Dabare, Lasith Abeyratne, Avishka Tharindu
Fixtures
Defending champions Jaffna Kings will take on the Colombo Strikers in the first match of LPL 2023. The entire fixtures are mentioned below.
July 30th
Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Strikers
July 31st
Galle Titans vs Dambulla Aura
B-Love Kandy vs Colombo Strikers
August 1st
Dambulla Aura vs Jaffna Kings
Galle Titans vs B-Love Kandy
August 4th
Colombo Strikers vs Galle Titans
Dambulla Aura vs Jaffna Kings
August 5th
Galle Titans vs B-Love Kandy
Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Strikers
August 7th
B-Love Kandy vs Dambulla Aura
Galle Titans vs Jaffna Kings
August 8th
Dambulla Aura vs Colombo Strikers
B-Love Kandy vs Jaffna Kings
August 11th
Dambulla Aura vs Galle Titans
August 12th
Jaffna Kings vs B-Love Kandy
Dambulla Aura vs Colombo Strikers
August 13th
Jaffna Kings vs Galle Titans
Colombo Strikers vs B-Love Kandy
August 14th
B-Love Kandy vs Dambulla Aura
August 15th
Colombo Strikers vs Galle Titans
August 17th
Qualifier 1
Eliminator
August 19th
Qualifier 2
August 20th
Final
(cricone)
