XtraTime Web Desk: 2011 World Cup winning Indian player Munaf Patel is among a list of overseas players lined up for auction for the inaugural Lanka Premier League 2020. As many as 150-odd overseas players will be going under the hammer for the LPL auction to be held on October 1.
Along with Munaf Patel, West Indians Chris Gayle, Daren Sammy, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan, England’s Ravi Bopara and South Africans Colin Munro and Vernon Philander have also been included for the auction.
Five franchises will play in the inaugural edition of LPL which is scheduled to run from November 14 to December 6. The tournament was to be held in August but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement.
Patel, 37, retired from all forms of cricket in 2018 after playing in 13 Tests, 70 ODIs and three T20Is. He made his debut in 2006 and was a member of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team. He had earlier played in the T10 League in the UAE.
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 which will have 19 players each.
The matches will be played in Dambulla, Pallekele and Hambantota international stadiums. The LPL launch will be held in Hambantota.
However, the Sri Lankan government is yet to give approval for a shorter quarantine period for players, officials and broadcast staff. It is this hurdle that had forced the postponement of the LPL, originally slated to begin in late August.