The inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL 2020) is all set to commence on November 26 with five teams – Colombo Kings, Dambulla Viikings, Galle Gladiators, Jaffna Stallions and Kandy Tuskers – ready to fight it out for the title.
All the matches are set to be played at the Sooriyawewa Stadium in Hambantota. Here’s everything you need to know about the team Jaffna Stallions, captained by Thisara Perera.
Jaffna Stallions LPL 2020 Team Preview
Though overseas stars Ravi Bopara and Dawid Malan pulled out of the squad, Jaffna Stallions have managed to name solid replacements, and will be one of the teams least hit by such last-minute withdrawals. Whether they can use that to their advantage remains to be seen.
Captained by Thisara Perera, Jaffna will be reliant on their overseas stars to fire, and in Shoaib Malik, Kyle Abbott and Duanne Oliver, they have three experienced players who can be the key.
Jaffna Stallions LPL 2020 Squad List
Local players: Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Avishka Fernando, Dananjaya de Silva, Suranga Lakmal, Binura Fernando, Minod Bhanuka, Chaturanga de Silva, Mahesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kanagaratnam Kapilraj, Theivendiram Dinoshan, Yiyakanth Yiyaskanth
Overseas players: Shoaib Malik, Usman Shinwari, Duanne Olivier, Kyle Abbott, Tom Moores
Stallions training jersey #onlyjaffna pic.twitter.com/LjGXk35wTm
— Jaffna Stallions (@jaffnalpl) November 24, 2020
Key domestic player: Thisara Perera
The captain will have to lead from the front in what is a fairly young crop of Sri Lanka cricketers in the squad. If Thisara brings forth his best in LPL 2020, he can make Jaffna a force to reckon with. Thisara hasn’t been in the best form recently, but if he can return to his destructive form of old by the time they take on Galle Gladiators in their tournament opener on November 27, they could go places.
Key overseas player: Shoaib Malik
The Pakistan great has played in T20 leagues all round the world and brings with him valuable experience, which the Stallions will benefit from. Malik starred with the bat for Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2020 Eliminator 1, but couldn’t see his side through as they lost to eventual finalists Lahore Qalandars.
