Lanka Premier League 2023 is making the fans squirm in their chairs, and why wouldn’t that be? It is a flagship event of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), which produced this league on the lines of the famous Indian Premier League, dividing the tournament into five franchises that operate on a league-style model.
We look at the history of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), the 2023 edition, the teams, and the schedule.
Lanka Premier League 2023 – A Brief History
The first edition of the Lanka Premier League was in 2020. Despite the threat of Covid-19, the SLC decided to organize the tournament since the project was first conceptualized in 2018. That was when SLC announced in June of the same year, with the pandemic at its peak, that the first-ever Lanka Premier League would kick off in November.
LPL Season 1
Jaffna Kings, then named Jaffna Stallions, won the inaugural edition after a 53-run win over Galle Gladiators, now Galle Titans. Shoaib Malik shone with bat and ball for the Thisara Perera-led franchise, who finished third in the league stage.
LPL Season 2
From 2021 onwards, the tournament was about to be played around July. Nevertheless, it was postponed despite being given a start date of July 30. The second edition of the Lanka Premier League start date was December 5. Jaffna Kings lifted a second successive trophy. In a rematch of the 2020 final, the Kings overcame the Galle-based franchise by 23 runs.
LPL Season 3
However, in 2022, the tournament looked set for its usual start. But the nation was going through a financial crisis, which meant it was postponed again, with the league finally starting on December 6. For the third time, Jaffna Kings became champions. They defeated Colombo Kings, now Colombo Strikers, by two wickets in the title clash.
It will be interesting if a new franchise emerges as the Lanka Premier League 2023 edition champion.
Sri Lanka Premier League 2023 Teams
Jaffna Kings, Galle Titans, Colombo Strikers, B-Love Kandy, and Dambulla Aura are the five teams in the Sri Lanka Premier League 2023 edition. Defending champion Jaffna Kings will be led by Thisara Perera, while Dasun Shanaka is the captain of Galle Titans. Colombo Strikers, the last season’s finalist, will be under the leadership of Niroshan Dickwella. Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga and Kusal Mendis will wear captain’s armbands for B-Love Kandy and Dambulla Aura, respectively.
Babar Azam, Shakib Al Hasan, David Miller, Fakhar Zaman, Tim Seifert, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, etc., are some of the prominent overseas players who will feature in the Lanka Premier League 2023.
Lanka Premier League 2023 Schedule
Many of you must be wondering what the Lanka Premier League 2023 start date will be. Would it again get postponed? Well, the answer is no. This time, the league will start on July 31.
The tournament will have 24 matches, including two qualifiers and one eliminator. The final is on August 20 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. With each team playing eight matches, Sri Lanka Premier League 2023 will be a crackerjack of a contest.
Here are the complete fixtures of the Lanka Premier League 2023 season:
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
| July 30 | Jaffna Kings vs Colombo Strikers | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| July 31 | Galle Titans vs Dambulla Aura | Colombo | 3:00 PM |
| July 31 | B-Love Kandy vs Colombo Strikers | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| August 1 | Dambulla Aura vs Jaffna Kings | Colombo | 3:00 PM |
| August 1 | Galle Titans vs B-Love Kandy | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| August 4 | Dambulla Aura vs B-Love Kandy | Pallekele | 3:00 PM |
| August 4 | Galle Titans vs Jaffna Kings | Pallekele | 7:30 PM |
| August 5 | Colombo Strikers vs Dambulla Aura | Pallekele | 3:00 PM |
| August 5 | Jaffna Kings vs B-Love Kandy | Pallekele | 7:30 PM |
| August 7 | Galle Titans vs Colombo Strikers | Pallekele | 3:00 PM |
| August 7 | Jaffna Kings vs Dambulla Aura | Pallekele | 7:30 PM |
| August 8 | B-Love Kandy vs Galle Titans | Pallekele | 3:00 PM |
| August 8 | Colombo Strikers vs Jaffna Kings | Pallekele | 7:30 PM |
| August 11 | Dambulla Aura vs Galle Titans | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| August 12 | B-Love Kandy vs Jaffna Kings | Colombo | 3:00 PM |
| August 12 | Dambulla Aura vs Colombo Strikers | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| August 13 | Jaffna Kings vs Galle Titans | Colombo | 3:00 PM |
| August 13 | Colombo Strikers vs B-Love Kandy | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| August 14 | B-Love Kandy vs Dambulla Aura | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| August 15 | Colombo Strikers vs Galle Titans | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| August 17 | TBC vs TBC (Playoffs) | Colombo | 3:00 PM |
| August 17 | TBC vs TBC (Playoffs) | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| August 19 | TBC vs TBC (Playoffs) | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| August 20 | TBC vs TBC (Final) | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
The league will kick off at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, but the caravan will then move onto Pallekele before returning to Colombo again during the business end.
Concluding Thoughts
Lanka Premier League 2023 will bring more joy to the fans, with many thrilling matches in the offing. Cricket fans will be expecting top-quality cricket, as several seasoned and experienced T20 players have already landed in the Island nation. The fourth edition promises exciting cricketing action.
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FAQs about Lanka Premier League 2023
- Is Suresh Raina playing in LPL 2023?
Suresh Raina was part of the LPL 2023 auction. But none of the franchises showed interest in the former India international.
- When is the LPL 2023 Final?
The final will be played on August 20 in Colombo.
- Who scored the most runs in LPL history?
Danushka Gunathilaka is the leading run-scorer in LPL, with 702 runs in 20 innings.
