Mustafizur Rahman, Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Glenn Phillips and Shadab Khan headline 5th edition of LPL starting July 1

Some of the biggest local and overseas stars will be in action when the Lanka Premier League (LPL) kicks off in Pallekele on July 1. The marquee stars from the five competing franchises include Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman, New Zealand's Glenn Phillips, Pakistan's Shadab Khan, and the Afghanistan spin trio of Mujeeb Ur Rehman, Noor Ahmad, and Mohammad Nabi.

Other big-ticket names include South African batters, Rilee Russouw and Reeza Hendricks, West Indian dynamos Andre Fletcher and Fabian Allen, and Kiwi middle-order batter Mark Chapman.

Talking about the upcoming LPL, tournament director Samantha Dodewala said:

"The Lanka Premier League continues to highlight the exceptional talent of our cricket players, providing fans with yet another opportunity to see their favorite stars in action. As we embark on this significant fifth season, I extend my best wishes to all the participants, stakeholders, and our cherished fans."

Anil Mohan Sankhdhar, who is the CEO of IPG Group, the official rights holder of LPL 2024 said:

"The past four years have seen the Lanka Premier League garner an overwhelming response from the global cricket community, with fans eagerly watching some of the sport's biggest stars. As we enter our fifth season, I am confident that the LPL will not only continue to thrive but also provide an unparalleled platform for homegrown talent to rise and shine."

Apart from the international stars, the 2024 LPL season will also feature some of the biggest Sri Lankan players like Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, and Kusal Mendis.

The tournament will played in just over a fortnight from July 1 to 21 with the playoffs starting on July 18.

B-Love Kandy are the defending LPL champions

After Jaffna Kings won a hattrick of titles in the first three IPL seasons from 2020 to 2022, B-Love finally stopped their run in the 2023 edition.

Led by veteran all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, the side took the hardest possible path to hoist the trophy. Kandy defeated Jaffna in the Eliminator to stop their title-winning run before upstaging Galle Titans in Qualifier 2.

In the summit clash, Kandy beat Dambula Aura in a thriller off the penultimate ball to win their first LPL title.

Angelo Matthews was adjudged the Player of the Final while also captaining the side in the contest. Despite missing the grand finale, skipper Wanindu Hasaranga was the Player of the Tournament for scoring 279 runs and picking up 19 wickets.