Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has entered the Lanka Premier league draft as a foreign player. The inaugural tournament will commence from 28th of August 2020. As per ESPNcricinfo, Pathan is one of the 70 foreign players who have registered for the draft.
If Pathan makes it through the draft then he will be the first-ever Indian player ever to play in the Lanka Premier League since no other Indian player has entered the draft. Also, he needs a NOC from BCCI if any franchise shows interest in him.
Irfan Pathan enters Lanka Premier League draft
This all comes in the aftermath of Pravin Tambe getting picked in the CPL draft last month. Earlier players like Yuvraj Singh and Manpreet Gony also participated in the GT20 league in Canada last year.
According to EspnCricinfo, Irfan Pathan will be a part of the draft unless one of the franchises don’t pick him as a marquee player. As far as the Sri Lanka cricket board is concerned, they’re waiting for government approval for the league to go ahead.
The SLC board released an official statement saying that the league will be a 23-match league. They also announced the Lanka Premier League will take place in four different stadiums. Also, the franchises are named after Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna.
“The 23 match League will take place on the four international venues of R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium.
Five teams named after the cities of Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna will participate in the League,” SLC said in a statement on Monday.
Irfan Pathan carries a wealth of T20 experience along with him. He was part of India’s World T20 squad back in 2007 & has represented over 6 franchises in the IPL. His last appearance in the IPL was for Gujarat Lions in 2017.
