The Lanka Premier League (LPL)’s rights holders, Sri Lanka Cricket and IPG, have ended Dambulla Thunders’ contract. The news broke the day after the Premier League had its player auction, which it declared to be a great success.
When it became known that Tamim Rahman, a Bangladeshi national and the CEO of the Imperial Sports Group, which runs the Thunders, had been detained by Colombo Police on suspicion of match-fixing, the organizers took action against the Dambulla franchise management. There are a number of match-fixing-related offenses that are illegal in Sri Lanka.
Other from the Galle Marvels, the Dambulla franchise is one of the two new teams with new owners. The Thunders roster includes well-known international players including Ibrahim Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Karim Janat, Iftikhar Ahmed, Akila Dananjaya, Nuwan Thushara, Mustafizur Rahman, and Dilshan Madushanka.
“The LPL will go as planned; in the event that we are unable to locate an owner in time for the LPL, we will run the side. We have handled two sides in the past, and we are prepared to suffer a financial setback,” an LPL representative told Cricket sport. This year, the LPL is slated to take place from July 1 to July 21.
The league consists of five clubs. The other four teams are the Jaffna Kings, B-Love Kandy, Colombo Strikers, and Galle Marvels in addition to the Thunders. The Thunders’ captain is Kusal Mendis. “We are committed to the highest standards of transparency and professionalism and will continue to support all our teams, players and fans during this transition.” Chairman of IPG Group and owner of LPL rights Anil Mohan stated.
“While the specifics of the charges against Mr. Rahman remain unclear, the integrity and smooth running of the Lanka Premier League are of utmost importance,” a statement from the LPL stated. The purpose of this termination/retraction of rights is to protect the LPL’s reputation and core principles by making sure that all players follow the strictest rules on behavior and sportsmanship. The management of the LPL is working hard to minimize any impact on the upcoming season and to deal with the ramifications of this termination/retraction of rights.”
With four seasons since its launch in 2020, the Kandy franchise is the reigning champion of the league.
