By Zainab Shafiq 
In a surprising turn of events, Pakistani players dominated the players’ auction for the Lanka Premier League (LPL), stealing the spotlight. The highly anticipated LPL is set to take place from July 30 to August 22, and the auction showcased the fervor surrounding the event.
Notably, around 10 Pakistani stars secured buyers in the auction, while some prominent players like Imad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Azam Khan went unsold, failing to attract bids from the participating franchises.
The Colombo Strikers made some significant acquisitions, bringing onboard Iftikhar Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, and Mohammad Nawaz for $50,000, $40,000, and $30,000 respectively. These players will join forces with the already pre-signed franchise players Babar Azam and Naseem Shah, further strengthening the Strikers’ lineup.
Meanwhile, B-Love Kandy secured the services of Mohammad Hasnain and Asif Ali, both being sold at their base price of $30,000. B-Love Kandy successfully bid $34,000 for Mohammad Hasnain, while Asif Ali was bought for his base price. The franchise also added Mohammad Haris and Aamer Jamal to their roster for $20,000 and $10,000 respectively. These players will be joined by Fakhar Zaman, forming a formidable lineup for Kandy.
The Jaffna Kings were thrilled to bring back Shoaib Malik to their ranks, securing his services for $50,000. The Kings also added Zaman Khan, a specialist in death overs, to their squad at his base price of $30,000. Dambulla Aura focused on strengthening their bowling attack by acquiring Pakistani pacer Shahnawaz Dahani for his base price of $20,000.
These Pakistani players went unsold in LPL 2023 auction
Unfortunately, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Faheem Aslam, Umar Akmal, Sharjeel Khan, and Haider Ali failed to attract any bids and remained unsold throughout the auction.
With Pakistani players making a significant impact in the LPL auction, the tournament is sure to witness some thrilling performances. Fans can look forward to watching their favorite stars in action as the competition intensifies.
Here is a list of Pakistani players and the teams they will be representing in the LPL:
- B-Love Kandy: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hasnain, Asif Ali, Mohammad Haris, Aamer Jamal
- Colombo Strikers: Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Wahab Riaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz
- Jaffna Kings: Shoaib Malik, Zaman Khan
- Dambulla Aura: Shahnawaz Dahani
Additionally, each team has already pre-signed players:
- Colombo Strikers: Babar Azam, Matheesha Pathirana, Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunaratne
- Dambulla Aura: Mathews Wade, Kusal Mendis, Lungi Ngidi, Avishka Fernando
- Jaffna Kings: David Miller, Thisara Perera, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Maheesh Theekshana
- B-Love Kandy: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wanindu Hasaranga, Fakhar Zaman, Angelo Mathews
- Galle Gladiators: Shakib Al Hasan, Dasun Shanaka, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Also, see:
https://www.homeoft20.com/jaffna-kings-squad-for-lanka-premier-league-lpl/