Shakib Al Hasan will represent Galle Gladiators in LPL 2023, while Babar Azam will compete for Colombo Strikers.

Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh ODI captain, has signed with Galle Gladitators for the impending season of the Lanka Premier League. The all-rounder, along with his national compatriots Litton Das and Afif Hossain, has reportedly registered for the draft, but the two-time finalists have reached a direct agreement with him. This will be his first season in the LPL, and he will be under pressure to perform since Galle have never won the championship.

Notably, the draft will occur on June 11, but all five clubs are permitted to sign players prior to that date. Kandy Falcons have re-signed Sri Lankan international Wanindu Hasaranga, who has performed reasonably well in the current Indian Premier League, while the three-time champions Jaffna Kings have made an excellent acquisition by signing South African international David Miller. In IPL 2023, the 33-year-old batsman has amassed 255 runs in 13 encounters over the course of the last few months, demonstrating extraordinary cricketing prowess.

Meanwhile, the Colombo Strikers, who will compete in the Lanka Premier League for the first time this year, have announced their Icon Players roster. Among the Icon Players are Pakistan captain Babar Azam, Pakistani speedster Naseem Shah, and Sri Lankan T20 players Mathew Pathirana and Chamika Karunaratne.

Wanindu Hasaranga poised to lead Kandy Falcons
Hasaranga, the star all-rounder, will presumably lead the Kandy Falcons in the upcoming season. Under his able direction, the Falcons concluded the previous season with the most points but lost in Qualifiers 2 to the Colombo Strikers. Consequently, he will be determined to help Kandy win their first championship this time around.

According to a report in Daily Star, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam will play for Colombo Strikers in the impending season. Matheesha Pathirana is also anticipated to join them, making the upcoming LPL a star-studded affair, something Sri Lankan cricket has desired for a long time. The board wishes to involve more international stars in order to attract more fans and sponsors, so the tournament will be held in August.