LPL 2024 Auction: Matheesha Pathirana Breaks the Bank; List of Sold Players: Report
Sri Lanka’s young fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana scripted history in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 auction, becoming the most expensive player ever in the tournament’s history. The 21-year-old, who had a brief stint with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL earlier this year, fetched a whopping USD 120,000 after a bidding war, surpassing the previous record by a significant margin.
Pathirana’s Record-Breaking Deal
- Pathirana, known for his resemblance to Lasith Malinga’s bowling style, attracted a whopping USD 120,000 after a bidding war.
- Initially, Galle Marvels secured him at the auction’s base price of USD 50,000.
- However, Colombo Strikers, Pathirana’s former team, exercised their Right To Match (RTM) card to retain him for the record-breaking price.
- This translates to approximately Rs 99.97 lakh in Indian currency and a staggering LKR 3.59 crore in Sri Lankan rupees.
While Pathirana stole the show, several other players fetched impressive deals:
- Dhananjaya de Silva (Dambulla Thunders): The experienced Sri Lankan all-rounder secured a lucrative USD 50,000 contract.
- Rilee Rossouw (Jaffna Kings): The South African batsman known for his big-hitting abilities went for USD 55,000.
- Young Lankan Talents Find Favor: Promising Sri Lankan players like Ashen Bandara (USD 28,000), Janith Liyanage (USD 36,000), and Dunith Wellalage (USD 50,000) also found takers at the auction.
- International Stars Join the Fray: Established international players like Dinesh Chandimal (USD 40,000), Fabian Allen (USD 32,000), Dwaine Pretorius (USD 30,000), and Taskin Ahmed (USD 50,000) were picked up by various franchises.
Retained Players (pre-auction):
Each team retained a core group of players before the auction. These are not publicly available in a single list, but news articles detail them by team [2].
Sold Players:
The auction saw many exciting acquisitions by the teams. Here are some of the notable players sold:
- B-Love Kandy: Ashen Bandara (USD 28,000), Dinesh Chandimal (USD 40,000) [2]
- Dambulla Thunders: Dhananjaya de Silva (USD 50,000), Lahiru Udara (USD 14,000) [2]
- Galle Marvels: Janith Liyanage (USD 36,000), Dwaine Pretorius (USD 30,000) [2]
- Jaffna Kings: Rilee Rossouw (USD 55,000), Fabian Allen (USD 32,000) [2]
- Colombo Strikers: Chamika Gunasekara (USD 10,000), Dunith Wellalage (USD 50,000), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (USD 50,000), Taskin Ahmed (USD 50,000) [2]
Pathirana’s Rise and Future Prospects
This record-breaking deal signifies Pathirana’s impressive performances in the IPL and his potential as a future star. With the upcoming T20 World Cup scheduled later this year, Pathirana will be looking to continue his fiery pace bowling and cement his place in the Sri Lankan national team.
DISCLAIMER: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.
