Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the termination of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Dambulla Thunders, effective immediately after recent developments concerning the franchise’s ownership. Notably, Tamim Rahman, a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin who owns the LPL franchise Dambulla Thunders, was arrested on suspicion of indulging in match-fixing. “The Lanka Premier League (LPL) announces the termination of the Dambulla Thunders franchise, effective immediately. This decision follows recent developments concerning the franchise’s ownership and the legal issues faced by Tamim Rahman, Founder of Imperial Sports Group,” Sri Lanka Cricket tweeted.
“An official from the Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offenses Relating to Sports at the Sports Ministry confirmed the arrest of the individual, who holds British citizenship. The Colombo Magistrate’s Court remanded Rahman in custody until May 31. While the specifics of the charges against Mr. Rahman remain unclear, the integrity and smooth functioning of the Lanka Premier League are of utmost importance. This termination aims to uphold the values and reputation of the LPL, ensuring that all participants adhere to the highest standards of conduct and sportsmanship,” the SLC statement read.
“The LPL management is working diligently to address the consequences of this termination and to ensure minimal disruption to the upcoming season. The LPL remains committed to delivering an exciting and competitive tournament and will take all necessary steps to maintain the league’s integrity and success. We are committed to the highest standards of transparency and professionalism and will continue to support all our teams, players, and fans during this transition.” LPL rights holder IPG group chairman Anil Mohan said.
The auction for the fifth season of the LPL took place, with 500 local and international players participating. Matheesha Pathirana became the most expensive Lanka Premier League player ever on Tuesday, commanding a USD 120,000 price tag as he joined his old team, Colombo Strikers, for the 2024 season, four years after it began amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Pathirana recently competed for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. The league was scheduled to commence in 2018, however it was postponed several times due to administrative concerns within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The current LPL champion is B-Love Kandy, who won the 2023 edition by defeating Dambulla Aura in the final. The competition is contested by five franchises.
Source Agencies
