The players’ draft for the sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) was concluded last night in Colombo, Sri Lanka, resulting in the selection of two additional Bangladeshi cricketers, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud, by tournament franchises. A total of 31 Bangladeshi cricketers were included in the final draft pool, from which two were picked last night, bringing the total number of Bangladeshi players participating in the upcoming tournament to five, following three prior direct signings.
Draft Selections and Category Details
Spin-bowling all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz was acquired by the Galle Gallants franchise from the ‘Classic’ draft category. In the same category, fast bowler Hasan Mahmud was signed by the Colombo Caps.
The draft framework structured by the tournament organisers comprised three primary financial categories alongside specialized brackets for emerging players:
Platinum Category: Valued at $50,000 USD
Gold Category: Valued at $30,000 USD
Classic Category: Valued at $20,000 USD
Associate Nations Category: Valued at $15,000 USD
Under-23 Players Category: Valued at $10,000 USD
Because Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Hasan Mahmud were selected from the Classic category, their respective draft values are established at $20,000 USD each for the duration of the tournament.
Pre-Draft Direct Signings and Franchise Compositions
Prior to the commencement of the official players’ draft, three Bangladeshi cricketers had already secured positions in the tournament through direct contract negotiations. Opening batsman Litton Kumar Das was signed directly by Galle Gallants, meaning he will join his compatriot Mehidy Hasan Miraz within the same squad.
Concurrently, the Jaffna franchise secured the signatures of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and fast bowler Taskin Ahmed through direct overseas signings ahead of the draft proceedings.
Conversely, several prominent Bangladeshi international cricketers remained unselected despite being present in the final draft pool. These players include Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, national captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, and Shamim Hossain, among others.
Tournament Schedule and Franchise Rebranding
The sixth season of the Lanka Premier League is scheduled to take place from 17 July to 8 August, featuring five competing franchise teams.
For the upcoming iteration of the tournament, four of the five participating franchises will compete under altered corporate identities and revised names following structural changes. The updated team nomenclature for the competition has been confirmed as follows:
The Jaffna franchise will compete under the title of SC Jaffna Kings.
The Galle franchise has been renamed as the Galle Gallants.
The Kandy franchise will operate under the name Kandy Royals.
The Colombo franchise has transitioned to become the Colombo Caps.
The only participating franchise that has elected to retain its historical branding without modification for the upcoming season is the Dambulla Sixers. The five teams will contest the tournament across the scheduled summer window to determine the champions of the sixth edition.