LPL gets bigger and better

ICC Chairman Greg Barclay, Sports Minister Harin Fernando, IPG CEO Anil Mohan give away the LPL trophy to Jaffna Kings Captain Charith Asalanka. SLC President Shammi Silva and Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela are also present

• Expected to expand to six teams next year

Next year’s edition of Lanka Premier League will be bigger and better with the league expected to expand to six franchises. Some of the bigger names in cricket like Kane Williamson, and David Miller are tipped to take part in the next edition in 2025.

When the Lanka Premier League was launched in 2020, it was amidst many challenges and many of us doubted its success as the pandemic was at its height. From flying in players from overseas and placing them in quarantine and carrying out the whole tournament under strict COVID guidelines were a huge challenge. But the organisers overcame that challenge and LPL grew stronger year by year.

This year the tournament was into its fifth edition and saw the best competition ever. LPL is growing and catching up the attention of not only global viewership but investors and sponsors too.

The icing on the cake this year was ICC Chairman Greg Barclay attending the final. The Kiwi alongside Sports Minister Harin Fernando awarded the LPL trophy to Captain Charith Asalanka as Jaffna secured their fourth title.

Barclay wasn’t alone. There were 108 other ICC board members who witnessed the final that was worked off alongside the annual ICC AGM.

Given the fabulous final that was delivered, the word will get across the cricketing globe about the quality of this competition. LPL undoubtedly is growing in stature.

The tournament has been a godsend for players and coaches giving them decent pay and SLC’s finances have grown stronger. But more importantly, the tournament has helped Sri Lanka identify new talents and leaders.

Obviously Maheesh Theekshana and Pathum Nissanka made such a huge impact in the inaugural edition of the competition that both of them have now gone on to become regulars for Sri Lanka in white ball cricket. There have been so many other players who have been identified to represent Sri Lanka and this season it was Chamindu Wickramasinghe, whose impressive runs earned him selection to the senior side for the series against India.

LPL has been the breeding ground for so many leaders as well and this season barely 48 hours after leading Jaffna Kings to the title, Charith Asalanka was confirmed as Sri Lanka’s white ball Captain.

Not just for new players, but LPL helped some of the dropouts to fight their way back as well. Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando weren’t part of Sri Lanka’s side that played the recent World Cup but big runs in the LPL helped them to force their way back into the senior side. There was also the long-forgotten Dinesh Chandimal. When everyone thought that his career in white ball was over, you find him back in the squad.

A conscious effort to include young players in the side should hold Sri Lanka’s cricket in good stead as well and players have the opportunity to learn from the world’s finest.

This year’s LPL saw some of the finest cricketing talents in the world and players like Alex Hales, Tim Seifert, Rilee Rossouw, Andre Fletcher, Shadab Khan, Fabian Allen, Rahmanullah Gurbaz were a sensation.

There were high scoring games and totals of 200 plus were scored on more than four instances. There were six centuries scored during season 5 and entertainment was in plenty.

IPG Group has done a splendid job delivering spectacular LPL tournaments. Experienced broadcaster Anil Mohan, CEO of IPG Group alongside SLC has worked tirelessly to produce quality events every year.