Colombo, Sep 12 (UNI) Former India speedster Munaf Patel, West Indies explosive batsman Chris Gayle are some of the international players to go under the hammer for the inaugural Lanka Premier League auction to take place on October 1.
In all, the five franchises will have a choice of around 150 players to bid for with the likes of West Indies Darren Bravo and Daren Sammy, Shahid Afridi of Pakistan, Bangladesh Shakib Al Hasan, England's Ravi Bopara, South Africans Colin Munro and Vernon Philander.
Each franchise can buy up to six international players. That means the LPL is likely to 30 international cricketers and 65 local cricketers, with each squad having 19 members.
As per the current schedule, the tournament will be held from November 14 and December 6. It will feature 23 matches, to be played in Dambulla, Pallekele and Hambantota, while the launch will take place in Hambantota.
However, government approval for a shorter quarantine period for players, officials and broadcast staff is yet to be secured; it is this hurdle that had forced the postponement of the LPL, originally slated to begin in late August.
The SLC officials have asked that the quarantine period for those arriving in the country for this tournament be reduced to seven days, from the present 14-day period.
Quarantine protocols have been incredibly strict in order to prevent the spread of the virus in Sri Lanka.
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