The excitement was palpable at the Lanka Premier League’s fifth-season player auction, held in Colombo on May 21. A whopping 420 cricketers, including 154 from Sri Lanka, lined up for their shot at glory. Teams went all out, splurging a total of $2,435,000 in LPL 2024 Auction on 114 players to build their dream squads for the franchise tournament. The five-team tournament will start on July 1 with the final on July 21.
Defending champions B-Love Kandy splurge on the auction investing $499,000 in a squad of 22 players. Right behind them were the Jaffna Kings, spending $490,000 on 24 players. Dambulla Thunders wasn’t far off, putting together a 24-player lineup with a $450,000 investment. Meanwhile, the Colombo Strikers put down $500,000 for 20 players including the highest buy Matheesha Pathirana, while the Galle Marvels matched Jaffna Kings with 24 players for a team value of $496,000.
| Team | Total Players | Domestic Players | International Players | Total Spend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-Love Kandy | 22 | 16 | 6 | $499,000 |
| Jaffna Kings | 24 | 18 | 6 | $490,000 |
| Dambulla Thunders | 24 | 18 | 6 | $450,000 |
| Colombo Strikers | 20 | 14 | 6 | $500,000 |
| Galle Marvels | 24 | 18 | 6 | $496,000 |
Matheesha Pathirana breaks record in LPL 2024 Auction
In the midst of the bidding frenzy, young pacer Matheesha Pathirana stole the show, making history as the most expensive player in LPL history. The Colombo Strikers secured him for a whopping $120,000, breaking the previous record. All-rounders Isuru Udana and Dasun Shanaka also fetched hefty bids of $100,000 and $85,000, respectively.
International stars also made their mark, with Afghanistan’s Karim Janat leading the pack as the most expensive foreign player. Dambulla Thunders snapped him up for $80,000, while another $50,000 brought Hazratullah Zazai’s explosive batting to the team. South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw rounded off the international signings, joining Jaffna Kings for $60,000.
5 Most Expensive Picks in LPL 2024 Auction
| Player | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Matheesha Pathirana | Colombo Strikers | $120,000 |
| Isuru Udana | Galle Marvels | $100,000 |
| Dasun Shanaka | B-Love Kandy | $85,000 |
| Karim Janat | Dambulla Thunders | $80,000 |
| Rilee Rossouw | Jaffna Kings | $60,000 |
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Lungi Ngidi, Martin Guptill remains unsold
However a lot of top foreign players have also missed out. South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who missed IPL 2024 with injury remained unsold. Kiwi batter Martin Guptill has also not be roped into any team.
Top Players to remain unsold in LPL 2024 Auction
- Rassie Van Der Dussen (South Africa)
- Vishwa Fernando (Sri Lanka)
- Lungi Ngidi (South Africa)
- Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh)
- Martin Guptill (New Zealand)
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