Lanka Premier League auction to feature 24 Pakistan cricketers, Shahid Afridi among the most expensive players

The much-anticipated Lanka Premier League is all set to start in November. Originally due in August, the tournament was pushed further due to coronavirus pandemic. After the delay, the league is scheduled to be played from November 14th to December 6th in Dambulla, Kandy and Hambantota.

The tournament will also have foreign attractions and many overseas stars are set to go under the hammer on October 1st. In the player auction, each franchise can buy up to six international players and a total of 30 international and 65 local cricketers will be up for grabs.

Sri Lanka Cricket has shortlisted at least 150 foreign cricketers and 24 of them are Pakistan players. The overseas players include prominent names like Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Darren Bravo, Shahid Afridi, Shakib-Al-Hasan, Ravi Bopara, Colin Munro, Munaf Patel, and Vernon Philander.

Amongst the offshore stars, former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi is the expensive player in the players’ list. According to Geo Super, Afridi has a base price of USD 60,000. Along with Afridi, Gayle of West Indies and South Africa’s Faf du Plessis will also a hefty price tag of USD 60,000.

Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar are also likely to take up mentoring roles in the league

Ahead of the start of the tournament, Galle Gladiators — a sister franchise of the Pakistan Super League side Quetta Gladiators, have already named Afridi as their marquee player. Another Pakistan stalwart, Shoaib Malik is placed in the USD 50,000 price category while Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, and Wahab Riaz have a base price of USD 40,000.

Other notable Pakistani players in the list are Sarfaraz Ahmed, Kamran Akmal, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Yasir Shah, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul, Mohammad Abbas, Sohail Tanvir, Junaid Khan, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Iftekhar Ahmed, and Ruman Raees.

According to reports, Pakistan pace legends Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar are also likely to take up mentoring roles in the league. India’s Munaf Patel and Parveen Kumar are also likely to feature in the tournament. To notch up the excitement of fans, rumours have suggested that Brian Lara and Vivian Richards will also feature in the inaugural edition of the league.