Squads –
CK –
Angelo Mathews, Andre Russell, Manpreet Singh Gony, Isuru Udana, Dinesh Chandimal, Amila Aponso, Ashan Priyanjaya, Ravinderpal Singh, Dusmantha Chameera, Jefferey Vandersay, Thikshila de Silva, Pht Kaushal, Lahiru Udara, Himesh Ramanayka, Kalana Perera, Tharindu Rathnayaka, Navod Paranawithana, Qais Ahmad, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Laurie Evans, Karim Khan Sadeq, Dammika Prasad
KT –
Kusal Janith Perera, Brendan Taylor, Kusal Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Seekkuge Prasanna, Asela Gunerathne, Naveen-ul-Haq, Kamindu Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Priyamal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Priyamal Perera, Kavisha Anjula, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lahiru Samarakoon, Nishan Madushka Fernando, Chamika Edirisinghe, Ishan Jayaratne, Irfan Pathan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sohail Tanvir, Munaf Patel, Dale Steyn, Kevin Kottigoda, Vishwa Fernando
Team News –
CK –
– The Colombo Kings will be lead by Star Allrounder Angelo Mathews for the inaugural season.
– Daniel Bell Drummond, Laurie Evans, Andre Russell and Qais Ahmed will be their likely 4 foreign players.
– Young Lahiru Udana and Daniel Bell Drummond will likely open the Innings. Udana has scored tons of runs in the domestic format averaging over 60. Drummond is coming here after a successful T20BLAST.
– Angelo Mathews will likely bat at 1 down. Mathews is a known face with international experience. He will also bowl.
– Dinesh Chandimal will bat next at 2 down and will also keep the Wickets. Chandimal was the highest scorer in Army Commander T20 league recently.
– Laurie Evans and Andre Russell will handle the middle order. Evans can also bat higher Chandimal. Bowling of Russell is still unsure.
– Qais Ahmed and Jeffrey Vandersay will be leading the spin attack. Both are leg spinners.
– Dhamika Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera and Isuru Udana will be leading the pace attack along with Russell and Mathews to assist.
KT –
– The Kandy Tuskers will be led by Kusal Perera who will also be the Wicket Keeper of team.
– Their Likely foreign players are R Gurbaz, Brendon Taylor, Irfan Pathan and Naveen-ul-haq.
– Dale Steyn will not be available for first few games.
– Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Kusal Mendis will likely open the Innings. Both are brilliant players of their international teams. Kusal Perera can also open shifting Mendis at 1 down position.
– Brendan Taylor will bat 1 down. Taylor has been in excellent recent form with a hundred against Pakistan.
– Kusal Perera will bat 2 down. He has been one of the top scorers on this ground with a average of 54.
– Asela Gunaratne and Irfan Pathan will handle the allround section. Pathan looked quite fit in the practice sessions.
– Seekuge Prasanna and Lasith Embuldeniya will handle the spin attack.
– Naveen-ul-haq, Nuvan Pradeep and Vishwa Fernando will lead the pace attack.
Probable XI –
CK –
Lahiru Udana, Daniel Bell Drummond, Angelo Mathews(c), Dinesh Chandimal(wk), Laurie Evans, Andre Russell, Isuru Udana, Qais Ahmed, Amila Alponso/D Prasad, D Chameera, Jefrey Vandersay.
KT –
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Kusal Mendis, Brendan Taylor, Kusal Perera(wk), Asela Gunaratne, Irfan Pathan, Kamindu Mendis, Seekuge Prasanna, Naveen-ul-haq, Nuvan Pradeep, Vishwa Fernando, L Embuldeniya
Pitch Report –
Mahinda Rajapaksha Stadium Hambantota, Sri Lanka
There have not been much international games at this venue so Wicket can be very unpredictable.
Total Matches : 7
Average 1st innings : 120
Team Blueprint –
WK –
D Chandimal ( 2/3 down + wk, 2800+ t20 runs, 2 50+ scores in domestic t20 recently, can be a differential pick )
K Perera ( Open/ 2 down + wk, very attacking batsman, SR of 130+ in t20s, 66* against WI in his last International game )
Brendan Taylor ( 1 down, best Batsman of Zimbabwe, 100 against Pak recently )
L Udana( Opener, young talent, 7 50s + 2 100s in his last 10 innings, Must have punt pick )
BAT –
Asela Gunaratne ( Middle order + part time medium pace, 940 runs + 28 t20 Wickets, Must )
Kusal Mendis ( Open/1 down, one of the best batters in sL currently, 1100+ runs with SR of 132 in t20s )
Daniel Bell Drummond ( Open, aggressive English opener, 423 runs at SR of 140 in T20 blast 2020 )
R Gurbaz ( Open, young attacking Batsman, 900 runs at SR of 160 in t20s , Must have )
Laurie Evans ( 2/3 down, scores of 88, 81, 73 in t20blast with 3600+ t20 runs, Must have)
A Priyanjan( Open/1 down, 202 runs in Srikankan domestic t20 league recently)
ALL –
Angelo Mathews ( 1/2 down, highly experienced with 2499 runs + 80 t20 Wickets, will bowl , Must have )
Andre Russell ( Middle order, best finisher in world cricket, poor IPL2020, bowling is under doubt )
Irfan Pathan ( Left arm pacer + very good Batsman, 173 t20 Wickets, played last t20 in 2017 in syed Mushtaq trophy taking 4 Wickets )
Seekuge Prasanna( Lower order hitting + spin, experienced with 115 t20 Wickets )
Kamindu Mendis ( Generally opens, can bowl off spin as well as orthodox spin, 257 runs + 4 Wickets in domestic t20 recently )
BOWL –
Isuru Udana ( Left arm medium fast, known for his variations, played IPL recently, Must have)
Jeffrey Vandersay ( Leggie, 6 Wickets in 5 games in domestic t20 2020 )
D Chameera ( Pacer, got some good pace, 43 t20 Wickets at eco just over 7)
Qais Ahmed ( Leggie, Afghan bowler, 60 t20 Wickets including 3 in the Shpageeza t20 recently)
Nuwan Pradeep ( Pacer, death bowler in international cricket, 47 t20 Wickets, economy slightly higher )
Naveen-ul-haq ( Pacer, known for his brilliant variations, 11 Wickets in CPL 2020 for him, Must have )
Vishwa Fernando( Left arm pacer, young bowler, 9 Wickets in 11 t20 innings, good GL pick )
L Embuldeniya ( Slow left arm, haven’t played much t20s, 2 Wickets in 2 games in domestic t20 2020 )
C/VC –
CK –
Andre Russell
Angelo Mathews
Daniel Bell Drummond
Isuru Udana
KT –
Kusal Perera
Kusal Mendis
Asela Gunaratne