Lanka Premier League scripted a new global chapter of T20 cricket

Gulf Today Report

The second season of the Lanka Premier League held in December 2021 witnessed the participation of global cricketing stars with the likes of Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz, Sherfane Rutherford, Najibullah Zadran, and Mohammad Hafeez some of the few overseas talents that played in the league.

Players from Pakistan, Afghanistan, UAE, West Indies, and the UK played in the second edition of Lanka Premier League, truly making the competition a global spectacle.

The viewership of the tournament saw a steep rise overseas and thousands of fans packed stands as the season progressed, with the final seeing 11,000 tickets being sold.

"It was a delight to have all the big stars of the cricketing world coming to showcase their talents in the second edition of Lanka Premier League. We received positive feedback from all of them about the organisation of the tournament, which makes us very proud of our efforts that went into successfully holding the tournament," said Anil Mohan, Founder, and CEO of Dubai-based production giant IPG, the official promoter of LPL, said.

"I also believe that there is a growing demand for T20 cricket across the world, and we are delighted for LPL to be yet another successful chapter in the global success of the format," he added.

LPL 2021 also presented a big opportunity for the young Sri Lanka cricketers to rub shoulders with the experienced veterans of the sport and gain knowledge about the gentleman's game. The growth of some of the players could be truly witnessed as the season progressed with the likes of Charith AsaLanka, Maheesh Theekshana, and Nuwan Thushara having a breakout season.

"When we thought about associating ourselves with the Lanka Premier League, our mission was always to unearth some of the local hidden talents in Sri Lanka who can perform on the biggest stage.

“It is a matter of immense pride for all of us to see how the Lanka Premier League is helping in the resurgence of cricket in Sri Lanka with new talented players making their way into the international teams," Mohan added.

The steep rise of T20 cricket over the past two years in Sri Lanka has largely been credited to the Lanka Premier League for giving a platform for the youngsters to perform and learn from some of the best players in the world.

"After the successful LPL 2021 edition, there is a growing belief in global circles that Sri Lanka could be the next major force in T20 international cricket. It gives us the motivation to continue our good work and come back this year with a bigger and better edition of Lanka Premier League," Mohan signed off.