The Lanka Premier League 2023 is scheduled to take place from July 30 to August 20, 2023. Five teams �Colombo Strikers, Dambulla Aura, Galle Titans, Jaffna Kings, and B-Love Kandy �will compete against each other twice during the league stage, which will be held between July 30 and August 15.

The top four teams will proceed to the playoffs, scheduled for August 17 (Qualifier 1 and Eliminator), August 19 (Qualifier 2), and August 20 (final). Additionally, a reserve day has been allocated for the final on August 21.

Each team has enlisted six overseas players, totaling to 30 overseas cricketers in the tournament. Colombo Strikers have appointed Babar Azam as their captain, making him the only overseas captain in LPL 2023.

Among the overseas players, 13 are from Pakistan, including stars like Shoaib Malik, Naseem Shah, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Wahab Riaz. Other overseas players come from various cricket-playing nations, including Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland.

For detailed squads of each team, please refer to the full squads of Colombo Strikers, Dambulla Aura, Galle Titans, Jaffna Kings, and B-Love Kandy in the Lanka Premier League 2023.

Here is a summary of the overseas players in each team:

Colombo Strikers:

• Ireland: Lorcan Tucker.
• Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Naseem Shah, Wahab Riaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz.

Dambulla Aura:

• Afghanistan: Noor Ahmad.
• Australia: Matthew Wade, Hayden Kerr, Alex Ross.
• Pakistan: Shahnawaz Dahani.
• South Africa: Lungi Ngidi.

Galle Titans:

• Australia: Ben Cutting.
• Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Mithun.
• New Zealand: Tim Seifert.
• South Africa: Tabraiz Shamsi, Chad Bowes.

Jaffna Kings:

• Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
• Australia: Chris Lynn.
• Pakistan: Shoaib Malik, Zaman Khan.
• South Africa: David Miller, Hardus Viljoen.

B-Love Kandy

• Afghanistan: Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
• Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Asif Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Aamer Jamal.

Bangladesh’s middle-order batsman, Towhid Hridoy, is all set to make his debut in the Lanka Premier League 2023, scheduled to commence later this month. Representing the defending champions, Jaffna Kings, Hridoy will join the team as a replacement for the veteran Pakistan all-rounder, Shoaib Malik, and will be available for the first six games of the season.

This overseas Twenty20 league opportunity is a significant milestone for Hridoy, marking his first foray into international T20 cricket. Shoaib Malik is currently participating in the ongoing Global T20 League in Canada and will join Jaffna Kings on August 8. In Malik’s absence, Hridoy will have at least six games to showcase his skills and contribute to the LPL side.

Confirming his availability with Jaffna, Hridoy mentioned that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has already issued him the No Objection Certificate (NOC). If everything goes as planned, he is scheduled to travel to Colombo on Friday, July 28.

The Lanka Premier League’s fourth edition will kick off next Sunday, with Jaffna Kings facing Colombo Strikers in the opening game at R Premadasa Stadium.

Meanwhile, there is uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh’s fast bowler, Taskin Ahmed’s participation in the LPL. Taskin has received an offer from Dambulla Aura, but the BCB is yet to decide on granting the NoC. Taskin is currently in Zimbabwe, playing for Bulawayo Braves in the ongoing Zim-Afro T10 League.

The auction for the highly anticipated Lanka Premier League 2023 concluded in Colombo, unveiling the updated squads and full team lists for all five participating sides.

The tournament, now in its fourth edition, will witness a fierce battle between five teams: Colombo Strikers, Dambulla Aura, Galle Titans, Jaffna Kings, and B-Love Kandy. The matches are scheduled to take place from July 31 to August 22, 2023.

The Jaffna franchise has emerged victorious in the previous three editions, clinching the title as Jaffna Stallions in 2020 and Jaffna Kings in 2021 and 2022. They triumphed over the Galle Gladiators (now Galle Kings) in the first two finals and the Colombo Stars (now Colombo Kings) in 2022.

Here are the updated squads and team lists for each team after the LPL 2023 auction. Overseas cricketers are underlined for reference:

Colombo Strikers: Babar Azam, 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: Matthew Wade, Kusal Mendis, 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: Shakib Al Hasan, Dasun Shanaka, 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

Jaffna Kings: David Miller, Maheesh Theekshana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Thisara Perera, 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

B-Love Kandy: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wanidu Hasaranga, 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