The Lanka Premier League (LPL) will fully adopt the Impact Player rule starting from its next season on July 17. This change aims to make the league more exciting and draw in more viewers.
Additionally, every team must include an Under-23 player in their starting lineup. These players must be born on or after July 1, 2003. This rule could pose challenges since many top youth players will be unavailable due to the Sri Lanka U19 team’s tour of India in July, which may leave teams in search of alternatives.
The Impact Player rule has faced significant criticism from prominent Cricket figures like Sachin Tendulkar, Shubman Gill, and Rohit Sharma. They argue that it disrupts the balance between batting and bowling. Despite this, LPL officials are moving forward with the rule, indicating their willingness to take bold steps.
LPL 2026 Pre-Signings and Full Squads
These updates were announced on June 1 in Colombo during a player draft that lasted over three hours. Each of the five franchises had to choose a minimum of 18 players over multiple rounds, with teams allowed four pre-signings. Except for the Dambulla Sixers, all teams introduced new owners, coaching staff, and team names, reflecting the league’s evolution.
Players were categorized into various groups: Platinum (USD 50,000), Gold (USD 30,000), and Classic (USD 20,000), divided between local and foreign players. Additional categories included Associate (USD 15,000) and Emerging Under-23 (USD 10,000). A key pre-signing is recently retired Indian cricketer Vijay Shankar, who will play for Kandy Royals.
Pre-Signings:
SC Jaffna Kings – Taskin Ahmed, Dunith Wellalage, Shakib Al Hasan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Galle Gallants – Litton Das, Eshan Malinga, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Dasun Shanaka
Kandy Royals – Vijay Shankar, Angelo Mathews, Moeen Ali, Wanindu Hasaranga
Colombo Kaps – Ben McDermott, Kamindu Mendis, Jimmy Neesham, Kusal Mendis
Dambulla Sixers – Reeza Hendricks, Dinesh Chandimal, Sahibzada Farhan, Dushmantha Chameera
Full Squads:
SC Jaffna Kings: Taskin Ahmed, Dunith Wellalage, Shakib Al Hasan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando, David Wiese, Dilshan Madushanka, Kamil Mishara, Traveen Mathews, Ibrahim Zadran, Mohommed Shiraz, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Nuwanidu Fernando, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lizaad Williams, Dipendra Airee, Kugathas Mathulan, Praveen Manisha, Nishan Madushka
Colombo Kaps: Ben McDermott, Kamindu Mendis, Jimmy Neesham, Kusal Mendis, Binura Fernando, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Milan Ratnayake, Janith Liyanage, Shahnawaz Dahani, Jeffrey Vandersay, Thanuka Dabare, Movin Subasingha, Mohammed Haris, Hasan Mahmud, Kushal Bhurtel, Malsha Tharupathi, Sharujan Shanmuganathan, Wanuja Sahan, Anthony Pragasam
Kandy Royals: Vijay Shankar, Angelo Mathews, Moeen Ali, Wanindu Hasaranga, Nuwan Thushara, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Kusal Perera, Asitha Fernando, Garuka Sanketh, Daniel Sams, Vishen Halambage, Muditha Lakshan, Lahiru Udara, Dale Phillips, Zahir Khan, Brandon McMullen, Sahan Mihira, Pawan Sandesh, Dushan Hemantha, Isitha Wijesundera
Galle Gallants: Litton Das, Eshan Malinga, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Dasun Shanaka, Charith Asalanka, Mohammad Nawaz, Pramod Madushan, Lasith Croospulle, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Akif Javed, Sahan Arachchige, Chamika Karunaratne, Tharindu Rathnayake, Sam Harper, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Haider Ali, Dinura Kalupahana, Uri Koththigoda, Kasun Rajitha, Sachindu Colombage
Dambulla Sixers: Reeza Hendricks, Dinesh Chandimal, Sahibzada Farhan, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Niroshan Dickwella, Pavan Rathnayake, Akila Dananjaya, Mohammed Wasim, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ramesh Mendis, Sachitha Jayatilake, Gulbadin Naib, Dian Forrester, Shadley Schalkwyk, Vishva Kumara, Gayana Weerasinghe