By BV Swagath
It’s going to be yet another Twenty20 League that’s coming up in world cricket. This time it’s the turn of the Island Nation – Sri Lanka to come up with a colourful exciting tournament by the name Mahindra Sri Lanka Premier League which promises to show fast paced cricketing action packed in 20 days. Unlike the IPL which has always seemed to be a never ending tournament, the Sri Lanka Premier League is short and sweet with a total of 24 matches in 20 days.
The Sri Lankan Premier League is heading towards the right direction. The tournament has a title sponsor and the teams taking part in the tournament are well funded. The SLPL is going to be broadcast on channels like Star Cricket, Geo Super, CSN TV, Sky Sports and others to reach out to 80 countries in the world. Another important point to note is that there will be live coverage of the SLPL online on youtube as well! Some of the cricket website like Cricwaves.com will be bringing the ball by ball updates and commentary of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL 2012).
The only worry of sorts for the SLPL is that there aren’t many big international stars figuring in this tournament. Not even a single Indian Cricketer is there in the SLPL as the BCCI will never encourage any competing league to IPL to come up. The biggest attraction of the SLPL has been Chris Gayle as his six hitting is the reason behind the success of Twenty20 Cricket all over the world. Unfortunately, Gayle has withdrawn from the tournament because of a groin injury. The other big overseas stars of the SLPL are Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal. The SLPL also has a huge participation from Pakistan making people wonder whether it is just SLPL or Sri Lanka-Pakistan Premier League!
Well the inaugural SLPL tournament will feature 7 teams - Basnahira Cricket Dundee, Kandurata Warriors, Nagenahira Nagas, Ruhuna Royals, Uthura Rudras, Uva Next and Wayamba United.
Here are the Squads of the SLPL 2012:
Ruhuna Royals Squad: Lasith Malinga (Captain), Gayan Wijekoon, Ramith Rambukwella, Aaron Finch, Gihan Rupasinghe, Richard Levi, Chamara Silva, Jerome Taylor, Ryan Harris, Chaminda Vidanapathirana, Kasun Madushanka, Ryan Mclaren, Dananja De Silva, Lahiru Thirimanne, Shahid Afridi, Daniel Harris, Malinga Bandara, Shaluka Karunanayake, Denuwan Rajakaruna, Nathan McCullum, Shanuka Dissanayake, Dilruwan Perera, Prasanna Jayawardene, Tharanga Lakshitha
Uva Next Squad: Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Saliya Saman, Dilhara Fernando, Sameera Zoysa, Akila Ishanka, Dilshan Munaweera, Sekkuge Prasanna, Andrew McDonald, Dinesh Dharshapriya, Shoaib Malik, Ashan Priyanjana, Hammad Azam, Thilina Kandamby, Ashen Silva, James Franklin, Umar Gul, Banuka Rajapaksha, Lahiru Madhushanka, Upul Tharanga, Callum Ferguson, Sachithra Senanayake, Vishva Fernando
Wayamba United Squad: Mahela Jayawardena (Captain), Dasun Shanaka, Abdul Razzaq, Akhila Dananjaya, Dilesh Buddika, Malinga Pushpakumara, Alankara Asanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Milinda Siriwardena, Azhar Mahamood, Isuru Udana, Nimesh Perera, Brad Hogg, James Faulkner, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas, Kaushal Weeraratne, Suranga Lakamal, Chathuraga Kumara, Kemar Roach, Tamim Iqbal, Colin Ingram, Kushal Janith Perera, Umar Akmal
Nagenahira Nagas Squad: Angelo Mathews (Captain), Elias Sunny, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ahmed Shahzad, Gayan Maneeshan, Sachith Pathirana, Ajantha Mendis, Imaran Nazir, Sajeewa Weerakoon, Andy Solomans, Ishan Jayarathne, Shaminda Eranga, Angelo Perera, Kanishaka Alwitigala, Suraj Randiv, Ben Laughlin, Mitchell Marsh, T M Sampath, Chameera Dushamantha, Mushfiqur Rahim, Travis Birt, Charith Silvester, Nazir Hossaain, Udara Jayasundara
Uthura Rudras Squad: Muttiah Muralitharan (Captain), Fidel Edwards, Nilanka Premaratne, Akalanka Ganegama, Imran Farhat, PHD Kaushalya, Brendon Taylor, Janak Gunaratne, Roshen Silva, Chamara Kapugedara, Jehan Bubarak, Samuel Badree, Chathura Peiris, Kevon Cooper, Sandun Weerakkody, David Miller, Madhushanka Ekanayake, Dillon Du Preez, Madra Lakmal, Sohan Boalessa, Farveez Maharoof, Mahela Udawatta, Yohan De Silva
Basnahira Cricket Dundee Squad: Tillakaratne Dilshan (Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Nuwan Pradeep, Amal Athulamudali, Dirk Nannes, Rangana Herath, Brad Hodge, Indika De Seram, Robin Peterson, Cameron Borgas, Ishara Amarasinghe, Rushan Jaleel, Clint Mckay, Jeewan Mendis, Sachithra Serasinghe, Damika Prasad, Lahiru Jayaratne, Sanjaya Gangodawila, Daniel Smith, Marlon Samuels, Thilan Thushara, Danushka Gunathilaka, Nadeera Nawala, Tim Southee
Kandurata Warriors Squad: Adam Voges, Johan Botha, Niroshan Dikwella, Albie Morkel, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Romesh Buddika, Chanaka Welagedara, Kaushal Silva, Saeed Ajmal, Chinthaka Perera, Kithruwan Vithanage, Sanajth Jayasuriya, Chris Lynn, Kosala Kulasekara, Sohail Tanvir, Dane Vilas, Kumara Sangakkara, Tharanga Paranavitana, Dilhara Lokuarachchi, Malinga Warnapura, Thilan Samaraweera, Jeewantha Kulathunga, Misbah-Ul-Haq, Thisara Perera
