Find out all you need to know about the upcoming Lanka Premier League 2023 auction.
LPL 2023 Auction: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has officially announced that the Lanka Premier League 2023 Auction is scheduled to occur on June 14. The highly anticipated T20 tournament has attracted the interest of over 500 players who have registered themselves for the event. This year marks the fourth edition of the esteemed T20 league, which is set to commence on July 31 and culminate on August 22.
In a bid to enhance the competition, SLC has taken inspiration from the successful Indian Premier League (IPL). The upcoming auction will feature five franchises, each allocated a spending purse of US$ 500,000. The franchises will have the opportunity to strategically acquire talented players who can contribute to their success in the tournament.
Several renowned cricket stars have already been signed by franchises prior to the auction, creating a sense of excitement among fans. Notable players such as Babar Azam, the captain of the Pakistan national team, and Shakib al Hasan, the former captain of Bangladesh, have secured pre-selected positions in the league. These players have been signed on three-year deals, granting the franchises the ability to retain or release them at the end of each season based on mutual agreement. Additionally, franchises will have the option to engage in player trades during a designated period. However, the specific details regarding the trading process have yet to be confirmed by the LPL.
Here is the list of pre-selected players before the LPL 2023 auction:
- Colombo Strikers: Babar Azam, Matheesha Pathirana, Naseem Shah, and Chamika Karunaratne
- Dambulla Aura: Matthew Wade, Kusal Mendis, Lungi Ngidi, and Avishka Fernando
- Jaffna Kings: Maheesh Theekshana, David Miller, Thisara Perera, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Kandy Falcons: Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Fakhar Zaman
- Galle Gladiators: Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka, Shakib Al Hasan, and Tabraiz Shamsi
The LPL 2023 Auction will adhere to the following rules:
Similar to the IPL auction format, players registering for the auction will be categorized into two groups: capped and uncapped players. Capped players will have a base price ranging between $10,000 and $50,000, with increments of $10,000.
Uncapped players will be further divided into three separate price ranges based on their experience. Players who have participated in 50 or more First-Class matches can register themselves at a base price of $20,000. Those with a minimum of 25 First-Class matches or 18 T20 franchise league matches (LPL or any other franchise) will be eligible to register at a base price of $10,000. Players who do not meet either of the aforementioned criteria can register at a base price of $5,000.
Each of the five franchises will have a squad size ranging from 20 to 24 players, with a requirement to include six mandatory overseas players.
The bidding process for the LPL 2023 Auction will be as follows:
Following the pre-signing of players, the remaining budget will be carried forward to the auction. During the bidding process, only two teams can actively bid on a player at a time. However, a third team may enter the bidding if one of the initial two teams withdraws.
While the LPL has adopted certain elements from the IPL, it introduces an ‘accelerated’ auction process after the first 70 players have been auctioned. In this accelerated phase, the five franchises can nominate 15 to 20 players who will be available for bidding. These nominations can include players who were previously unsold, providing an additional opportunity for teams to secure talent for their squads.
