Kolkata: Former India pacer Irfan Pathan is among the 70 foreigners to have shown interest in the Lanka Premier League which is set to start on August 28. The league is Sri Lanka’s first major T20 tournament since 2012 and will feature five teams and 10 ‘top-notch’ coaches. The development was confirmed in Sri Lanka Cricket’s executive committee meeting.
According to a report in espncricinfo, Pathan will put himself in the draft unless one of the five franchises picks him as a marquee. The five franchises will represent Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna. The younger of Pathan brothers’ entry in the draft comes after a healthy banter between him and former Lanka allrounder Farveez Maharoof.
Pathan had posted a video of himself training on social media to which Maharoof responded with a jibe. Maharoof then proceeded to offer to have Pathan added to the draft, which the Indian accepted. The tournament is said to have 23 games, and will be played across Sri Lanka’s four day-night international stadiums – Khettarama, Sooriyawewa, Pallekele and Dambulla.
However, all will be possible subject to government and Ministry of Health approval considering the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country
