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Jaffna Kings

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Jaffna Kings
NicknameKings of The North
LeagueLanka Premier League
Personnel
CaptainBhanuka Rajapaksha
CoachThilina Kandamby
OwnerSports Commune
Team information
CityJaffna, Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Colours  Blue
  Gold
Founded2020: Jaffna Stallions
2021: Jaffna Kings
History
LPL wins4 (2020, 2021, 2022, 2024)

T20I kit

Jaffna Kings (Tamil: யாழ்ப்பாணம் கிங்ஸ்), formerly known as Jaffna Stallions, is a Sri Lankan franchise cricket team which plays in the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The Kings are the current title holders of the tournament.

The team was coached by former Sri Lankan captain Thilina Kandamby.[1] Thisara Perera was the team's captain for the first four seasons.[2]

Franchise history

[edit]

2020 season

[edit]
Main article: Jaffna Stallions in 2020

The team was owned by a consortium consisting of Sri Lankans and Indians from all over the world including Australia, Canada, France, United Kingdom, and the USA.[3] Arnold Anandan and Rahul Sood, creator of Microsoft Ventures M12, were leading the consortium of tech industry leaders from the Pacific Northwest and Silicon Valley.[4][5] Among others, Rahul Sood was cited as a tech leader from the Seattle area who is investing in cricket, where the Jaffna Stallions also announced a global education partnership with Code.org.[6] As part of their outreach to the country of Sri Lanka the Jaffna Stallions released a song in partnership with famous artists La Signore, aka Lahiru Perera, and Dinesh Gamage, the song contains lyrics in both Sinhalese and Tamil and it's now trending at the top of the charts in Sri Lanka.[7][8]

On 16 December 2020, the team won the inaugural Lanka Premier League Championship.[9] The team captain Thisara Perera and Shoaib Malik both played pivotal roles in the win.[10]

2021 season

[edit]
Main article: Jaffna Kings in 2021

In July 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) terminated the franchise ahead of the 2021 Lanka Premier League due to financial issues.[11] In September 2021, the team changed its name to Jaffna Kings after Lyca Group took over the ownership.[12]

2022 season

[edit]
Main article: Jaffna Kings in 2022

2023 season

[edit]
Main article: Jaffna Kings in 2023

2024 season

[edit]
Main article: Jaffna Kings in 2024

2026 season

[edit]
Main article: Jaffna Kings in 2026

In April 2025, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that franchise owners Lyca Group had been terminated ahead of the 2025 Lanka Premier League due to their failure to fulfill the obligations of a team owner in the Lanka Premier League.[13]

Prior to the player draft in 2026, the franchise was brought by Sports Commune, led by Indian sports entrepreneurs Manjot Karla and Mayank Goel. Before the players' draft, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shakib Al Hasan, Taskin Ahmed and Dunith Wellalage were signed by the Kings as pre-draft signings.

Current squad

[edit]
Players with international caps are listed in bold.
Ages given as of 17 July 2026, the date the first match was played in the tournament.
No. Name Nat. Date of birth Batting style Bowling style Year signed Salary
(US$) 		Category Notes
Batters
28 Avishka Fernando Sri Lanka (1998-04-05)5 April 1998 (aged 28) Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 50,000 Local Platinum
54 Bhanuka Rajapaksa Sri Lanka (1991-10-24)24 October 1991 (aged 34) Left handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 80,000 Local Icon
18 Ibrahim Zadran Afghanistan (2001-12-12)12 December 2001 (aged 24) Right handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 30,000 Overseas Gold
27 Nuwanidu Fernando Sri Lanka (1999-10-13)13 October 1999 (aged 26) Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 20,000 Local Classic
Wicket-keepers
42 Kamil Mishara Sri Lanka (2001-04-24)24 April 2001 (aged 25) Left handed Right-arm off break 2026 30,000 Local Gold
24 Nishan Madushka Sri Lanka (1999-09-10)10 September 1999 (aged 26) Right handed — 2026 30,000 Gold Optional
All-rounders
45 Dipendra Singh Airee Nepal (2000-01-24)24 January 2000 (aged 26) Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 15,000 Overseas Associate Star
75 Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh (1987-03-24)24 March 1987 (aged 39) Left handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2026 80,000 Overseas Icon
9 Dunith Wellalage Sri Lanka (2003-01-09)9 January 2003 (aged 23) Left handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2026 60,000 Local Star
96 David Wiese Namibia (1985-05-18)18 May 1985 (aged 41) Right handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 50,000 Overseas Platinum
22 Chamindu Wickramasinghe Sri Lanka (2002-09-06)6 September 2002 (aged 23) Left handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 20,000 Local Classic
Spin bowlers
25 Sandeep Lamichhane Nepal (2000-08-02)2 August 2000 (aged 25) Right handed Right-arm leg break 2026 20,000 Overseas Classic
Traveen Mathew Sri Lanka (2004-06-14)14 June 2004 (aged 22) Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 30,000 Local Gold
Praveen Maneesha Sri Lanka (2005-11-12)12 November 2005 (aged 20) Right handed Right-arm leg break 2026 10,000 Emerging U23
Pace bowlers
3 Taskin Ahmed Bangladesh (1995-04-03)3 April 1995 (aged 31) Left handed Right-arm fast 2026 60,000 Overseas Star
98 Dilshan Madushanka Sri Lanka (2000-09-18)18 September 2000 (aged 25) Right handed Left-arm fast medium fast 2026 30,000 Local Gold
50 Lizaad Williams South Africa (1993-10-01)1 October 1993 (aged 32) Left handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 20,000 Overseas Classic
41 Mohamed Shiraz Sri Lanka (1995-02-13)13 February 1995 (aged 31) Right handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 20,000 Local Classic
Kugathas Mathulan Sri Lanka (2007-05-03)3 May 2007 (aged 19) Right handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 10,000 Emerging U23
Source(s) | ThePapare, Inside Sport & Sri Lanka Cricket[14][15][16]

Administration and support staff

[edit]
Position Name
Director Ganeshan Vaheesan
Manager Charinda Fernando
Head coach Thilina Kandamby
Assistant coach Mario Villavarayan
Assistant coach Hemang Badani
Batting coach Jehan Mubarak
Bowling coach Sachith Pathirana
Fielding coach Vimukthi Deshapriya

History

[edit]
Season Head coach Assistant coach
2020 Thilina Kandamby Mario Villavarayan
2021
2022
2023
2024 Avishka Gunawardene
2026 Thilina Kandamby

Seasons

[edit]
Year League table standing Final standing
2020 3rd out of 5 Champions
2021 1st out of 5 Champions
2022 2nd out of 5 Champions
2023 4th out of 5 Playoffs
2024 2nd out of 5 Champions

Statistics

[edit]

By season

[edit]
Year Matches Wins Losses No result Win% Position Summary
2020 10 6 3 1 67.00 3/5 Champions
2021 11 8 3 0 72.72 1/5 Champions
2022 10 8 2 0 80.00 2/5 Champions
2023 9 3 6 0 33.33 4/5 Eliminator
2024 11 7 4 0 63.63 2/5 Champions
Total 51 32 18 1 62.74

Individual records

[edit]

Captains

[edit]
No. Player From To Mat Won Lost Tied NR Win%
1 Thisara Perera 2020 2023 45 28 16 0 1 61.64
2 Charith Asalanka 2024 2024 11 7 4 0 0 63.63
3 Bhanuka Rajapaksa 2026 present

Most runs

[edit]
As of 13 May 2025
Runs Player Seasons
1300 Avishka Fernando 2020–2022; 2024
674 Shoaib Malik 2020–2023
640 Thisara Perera 2020–2023
607 Rahmanullah Gurbaz 2021–2023
389 Rilee Rossouw 2024
  • Source: CricInfo[18]

Highest individual score

[edit]
As of 19 August 2023
Runs Player Opposition Venue Date
100 Avishka Fernando Dambulla Giants Hambantota 21 December 2021
97* Thisara Perera Dambulla Viiking 30 November 2020
92* Avishka Fernando Galle Gladiators 27 November 2020
92 Tom Kohler-Cadmore Colombo Stars Colombo 16 December 2021
84 Avishka Fernando Galle Gladiators Hambantota 3 December 2020
  • Source: CricInfo[19]

Most career wickets

[edit]
As of 19 August 2023
Wickets Player Seasons
33 Maheesh Theekshana 2020–2023
28 Wanindu Hasaranga 2020–2021
22 Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 2020–2023
16 Dunith Wellalage 2022–2023
15 Multiple players
  • Source: CricInfo[20]

Best figures in an innings

[edit]
As of 19 August 2023
Figures Player Opposition Venue Date
4/10 Dunith Wellalage Galle Titans Pallekele 4 August 2023
4/13 Jayden Seales Colombo Stars Colombo 16 December 2021
4/16 Chathuranga de Silva Dambulla Giants 13 December 2021
4/22 Binura Fernando Dambulla Aura Pallekele 11 December 2022
4/25 Maheesh Theekshana Colombo Stars Colombo 10 December 2021
  • Source: CricInfo[21]

Team identity

[edit]

Anthem

[edit]
Year Anthem Artist(s)
2020 Vaadaa Machan Lahiru Perera, Dinesh Gamage
2022 Adidaa Macha Hana Shafa, Satheeshan, Krish Manoj

Kit manufacturers and sponsors

[edit]
Year Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor (front) Shirt sponsor (back) Chest branding Sleeve branding
2020 Jura Trading BBK Partnership Code.org Zestige, Pro You™
2021 Lyca Mobile Cycle Incense NLB Cycle Incense
2022 SkyExch N/a Lyca Mobile
2023 1xBet Wolf777 Batbricks7 SBC TV, Lyca Mobile
2024 MelBat MGlion News N/a Monara TV, Jumbo365

Honours

[edit]

League

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ Sanyal, S. (21 October 2020). "LPL 2020: The complete player lists for all Lanka Premier League franchises". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Cricket: Gayle, du Plessis, Afridi among marquee names picked in Lanka Premier League draft". scroll.in. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  3. ^ Jaffna Stallions (19 November 2020). "Jaffna Stallions Team Page". Jaffna Stallions.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "Founder of Microsoft Ventures Rahul Sood joins Jaffna Stallions as co-owner". Lanka Business Online. 19 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Jaffna Stallions cricket team a winner for Calgary-born co-founder Rahul Sood". North Shore News. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Seattle tech leaders including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella are investing in cricket teams". GeekWire. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. ^ "La Signore ft Dinesh - Vaadaa Machan | வாடா மச்சான் (Jaffna Stallions Theme Song) - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Jaffna Boys". Jaffna Boys. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Stallions win first ever LPL title". Jaffna Stallions. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Shoaib Malik powers Jaffna Stallions to inaugural LPL title win". CricketTimes.com. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  11. ^ "LPL terminates one more franchise". CricBuzz. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Lyca Group Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran new owner of Jaffna Kings". DailyFT. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  13. ^ "SLC terminates Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers ahead of LPL 2025". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  14. ^ Kanishka Sanjeewa (1 June 2026). "Full LPL 2026 Squads Following the Player Draft". ThePapare. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  15. ^ Naman Jain (2 June 2026). "All LPL 2026 squads after Lanka Premier League draft". Inside Sport. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  16. ^ "LPL 2026: Final Squads". Sri Lanka Cricket. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
  17. ^ "Lanka Premier League Cricket Team and Records | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  18. ^ "Most career runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Highest individual score". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Most career wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Best bowling figures in an innings". Retrieved 20 October 2020.


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