Munaf Patel among 150 big names shortlisted for Lanka Premier League
Munaf Patel will partake in LPL 2020
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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), on Friday, confirmed in a release that veteran Indian pacer Munaf Patel is one amongst 150 ‘top-notch’ cricketers in line to play the inaugural edition of the Lankan Premier League. The board confirmed that the player auction for the tournament will be held on October 1.
After months of speculation, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have finally cleared the air on the ‘big names’ set to participate in the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The five-team tournament scheduled to be held in November will feature a host of big names, including Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Shahid Afridi, Vernon Philander and Shakib-Al-Hasan, with the most striking overseas name being that of India’s very own Munaf Patel, who is all set to partake in the competition.
Patel, whose last professional game came three years ago in the IPL for Gujarat Lions, is one amongst 150 ‘top-notch’ cricketers set to feature in LPL 2020 and the news was officially confirmed by SLC in a press release on Friday.
“The player auction of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be held on 1st of October 2020. About 150 top-notch cricketers including Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Darren Bravo, Shahid Afridi, Shakib-Al-Hasan, Ravi Bopara, Colin Munro, Munaf Patel and Vernon Philander are in line to play in the inaugural edition of the LPL,” the board revealed in an official release.
“Each franchise can buy up to six international players. A total of 30 international cricketers and 65 local cricketers are expected to make up the five teams.”
Despite not having played ‘professional cricket’ for three years, Patel did, however, feature in the Road Safety World Series for ‘India Legends’ prior to the pandemic. The 37-year-old impressed in the tournament, picking 6 wickets in 2 games, including a four-wicket haul versus the Lankan Legends in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, SLC also confirmed that the player auction for the inaugural LPL will be held on October 1. The tournament, which will run from November 14 to December 6, will be played across three international stadiums - Dambulla, Pallekele and Hambantota.
