Avishka Fernando set the tone for the Lanka Premier League 2026 draft on Monday, June 1, after Jaffna Kings secured him as their first (platinum) pick. The bidding also reflected a clear appetite for Afghanistan talent, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib and Fazalhaq Farooqi all drawing interest as franchises looked to strengthen their squads ahead of the tournament’s return.
Draft day headlines and overseas/associate pull
Fernando’s arrival came as part of a wider strategy for Jaffna Kings, who first locked in the “platinum local” slot and then moved to reinforce their top-order options. Colombo Kaps, Kandy Royals, Dambulla Sixers and Galle Gallants also made targeted moves across platinum, gold, classic and associate categories, alongside pre-draft signings that had already shaped their final XI-building plans.
- Jaffna Kings selected Avishka Fernando as their first pick, then added more batting options by bringing in Kamil Mishara and Ibrahim Zadran in the gold phase.
- Afghanistan’s presence was strong across the draft, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib and Fazalhaq Farooqi all selected by different franchises.
- In total, 97 players were drafted across the league.
Who each franchise targeted
Alongside their marquee selections, several teams leaned into specific roles—whether that meant pace depth, wicketkeeping options, or specialist spin. Jaffna Kings also moved for experience and variety by signing veteran all-rounder David Wiese and left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka. Colombo Kaps, after pre-draft business that included Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis, went after mystery spin by selecting Mujeeb Ur Rahman as their platinum overseas pick, while Binura Fernando was confirmed as their platinum local signing.
Elsewhere, Kandy Royals added wicketkeeping experience through Kusal Perera and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and supplemented their bowling group by drafting pacers Nuwan Thushara and Asitha Fernando. Royals also brought in Scotland all-rounder Brandon McMullen under the Associate Stars category. They further enhanced their squad with pre-draft signings of Moeen Ali, Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews and Vijay Shankar.
Dambulla Sixers used their platinum local option on mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana, while Afghan left-arm quick Farooqi was secured as their platinum overseas pick. Sixers also turned to the associate pool for USA’s Shadley van Schalkwyk, who had taken 13 wickets in four T20 World Cup games earlier in the year. Galle Gallants, meanwhile, landed former Sri Lankan white-ball captain Charith Asalanka, and had also signed Dasun Shanaka ahead of the draft.
- Jaffna Kings: Fernando (platinum local), Wiese (platinum overseas), Madushanka (gold local) plus Mishara and Zadran in the gold round.
- Colombo Kaps: Mujeeb Ur Rahman (platinum overseas) and Binura Fernando (platinum local), after Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis were signed pre-draft.
- Kandy Royals: Kusal Perera and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicketkeepers), Nuwan Thushara and Asitha Fernando (pace), plus Brandon McMullen as an Associate Stars pick.
- Dambulla Sixers: Maheesh Theekshana (platinum local), Fazalhaq Farooqi (platinum overseas), and Shadley van Schalkwyk from the associate star pool.
- Galle Gallants: Charith Asalanka (platinum local) with Dasun Shanaka already on board pre-draft.
Squad size, tournament window and venues
While Jaffna Kings took 19 players during the draft, Dambulla Sixers made 18 selections. The other three franchises—Colombo Kaps, Kandy Royals and Galle Gallants—each drafted 20 players, alongside their respective pre-draft acquisitions.
Lanka Premier League 2026 is set to be the tournament’s sixth edition and will run from July 17 to August 18. Matches are scheduled across four venues located in Colombo, Dambulla and Pallekele.
Lanka Premier League 2026 squads (as selected)
Colombo Kaps
- Platinum picks: Binura Fernando (platinum local), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (platinum overseas)
- Gold picks: Sadeera Samarawickrama (gold local), Milan Rathnayake (local), Janith Liyanage (gold local), Shahnawaz Dahani (gold overseas)
- Classic picks: Jeffrey Vandersay (classic local), Thanuka Dabare (classic local), Movin Subasinghe (classic local), Mohammad Haris (classic overseas), Hasan Mahmud (classic overseas)
- Other picks: Kushal Bhurtel (associate star), Malsha Tharupati (emerging U23), Sharujan Shanmuganathan (emerging U23), Wanuja Sahan (optional gold), Anthony Pragasam (optional classic)
- Pre-signed players: Kusal Mendis (local icon), Kamindu Mendis (local star), Jimmy Neesham (overseas icon), Ben McDermott (overseas star)
Dambulla Sixers
- Platinum picks: Maheesh Theekshana (platinum local), Fazalhaq Farooqi (platinum overseas)
- Gold picks: Niroshan Dickwella (gold local), Pavan Rathnayake (gold local), Akila Dananjaya (gold local), Mohammad Wasim Jr (gold overseas)
- Classic picks: Dhananjaya Lakshan (classic local), Ramesh Mendis (classic local), Sachita Jayathilake (classic local), Gulbadin Naib (classic overseas), Dian Forrester (classic overseas)
- Other picks: Shadley van Schalkwyk (associate star), Vishva Kumara (emerging U23), Gayana Weerasinghe (emerging U23)
- Pre-signed players: Dushmantha Chameera (local icon), Dinesh Chandimal (local star), Sahibzada Farhan (overseas icon), Reeza Hendricks (overseas star)
Galle Gallants
- Platinum picks: Charith Asalanka (platinum local), Mohammad Nawaz (platinum overseas)
- Gold picks: Pramod Madushan (gold local), Lasith Croospulle (gold local), Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (gold local), Akif Javed (gold overseas)
- Classic picks: Sahan Archachige (classic local), Chamika Karunaratne (classic local), Tharindu Rathnayaka (classic local), Sam Harper (classic overseas), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (classic overseas)
- Other picks: Haider Ali (associate star), Dinura Kalupahana (emerging U23), Uri Koththigoda (emerging U23), Kasun Rajitha (optional gold), Sachindu Colombage (optional classic)
- Pre-signed players: Dasun Shanaka (local icon), Eshan Malinga (local star), Rassie van der Dussen (overseas icon), Litton Das (overseas star)
Jaffna Kings
- Platinum picks: Avishka Fernando (platinum local), David Wiese (platinum overseas)
- Gold picks: Dilshan Madushanka (gold local), Kamil Mishara (gold local), Traveen Matthew (gold local), Ibrahim Zadran (gold overseas)
- Classic picks: Mohammed Shiraz (classic local), Chamindu Wickramasinghe (classic local), Nuwanidu Fernando (classic local), Sandeep Lamichhane (classic overseas), Lizaad Williams (classic overseas)
- Other picks: Dipendra Singh Airee (associate star), Kugathas Mathulan (emerging U23), Praveen Manisha (emerging U23), Nishan Madushka (optional gold)
- Pre-signed players: Bhanuka Rajapaksa (local icon), Dunith Wellalage (local star), Shakib Al Hasan (overseas icon), Taskin Ahmed (overseas star)
Kandy Royals
- Platinum picks: Nuwan Thushara (platinum local), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (platinum overseas)
- Gold picks: Kusal Perera (local gold), Asitha Fernando (local gold), Garuka Sanketh (local gold), Daniel Sams (gold overseas)
- Classic picks: Vishen Halambage (classic local), Muditha Lakshan (classic local), Lahiru Udana (classic local), Dale Phillips (classic overseas), Zahir Khan (classic overseas)
- Other picks: Brandon McMullen (associate star), Sahan Mihira (emerging U23), Dewa Pawan Sandesh de Silva (emerging U23), Dushan Hemantha (optional gold), Isitha Wijesundara (optional classic)
- Pre-signed players: Wanindu Hasaranga (local icon), Angelo Mathews (local star), Moeen Ali (overseas icon), Vijay Shankar (overseas star)
