Sports
New owners for Jaffna franchise in LPL
by Rex Clementine
The winners of the inaugural Lanka Premier League – Jaffna Stallions have been shown the door after ‘breach of contract’ according to Sri Lanka Cricket and the ownership of the franchise has changed hands to UK based businessman Allirajah Subaskaran.
Subaskaran, who owns one of Britain’s leading mobile phone companies – Lyca is of Sri Lankan origin. With his take over, Jaffna will have a single owner and will be known as Jaffna Kings.
The previous owners of the franchise had about ten directors; all Sri Lankans living across the world.
Jaffna Stallions was the best organized franchise in the tournament and there was little surprise as they stormed to victory amidst much fanfare last year. They were brilliantly led by Thisara Perera and fans were able to see a whole lot of new stars during the month long competition.
Jaffna Stallions in a tweet said that they tried ‘everything to make it work’ and that they were going to put out a statement regarding the situation. The statement, however, did not come out even when this edition went to print.
The Island learns that contracts of several other franchises too have been terminated for not honouring their contracts. The reason for termination seems failure to make payments. Jaffna Stallions, however, had not defaulted payments and there were other issues pertaining to them being overlooked, it is learned.
The termination had been done by Dubai based IPG group and not Sri Lanka Cricket. SLC has sold the rights of the competition to IPG.
Sources also said that the original Jaffna team that had some very good signings from overseas will not be dismantled and the new owners will be allowed to continue with the same team. Thisara Perera is expected to be retained as captain.
SLC was confident that the tournament will continue as planned despite the setback of losing original franchise owners.
The second edition of the LPL will get underway in December with the first leg of the tournament being played in Colombo in a bio-secure bubble and the second leg moving to Hambantota. The southern city hosted the entire tournament last year.
The authorities are looking at the possibility of accommodating small number of fans for the games, The Island learns.
Playing just his second Test and the first in his team’s starting XI, Pasindu Sooriyabandara made Sri Lanka dream of the rarest of possibilities, but reality imposed itself on the SSC late on day four as India regained their grip on a Test match that had seemed to spiral out of control after the threat of bad weather led them to enforce the follow-on.
After Sooriyabandara put on 58 with Kamil Mishara for the second wicket and 115 with Kamindu Mendis for the third, Sri Lanka were at one stage 209 for 3, or just four runs behind with seven second-innings wickets in hand, on a day-four pitch that was still looking excellent for batting. India’s bowlers were into their 149th over across two consecutive innings, and looking short of both penetration and inspiration against a top order that had never allowed them to settle into their lengths.
Just then, however, Manav Suthar, who had borne the brunt of Sri Lanka’s positive intent, dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva and then Sooriyabandara in the space of two overs, the latter out eight short of a maiden Test hundred. Soon after, Saransh Jain trapped Niroshan Dickwella lbw, and Sri Lanka were effectively 5 for 6. By the time rain arrived to bring an early end to the day, Sri Lanka’s seventh-wicket pair had only added a further 11 runs to their tally.
If Sri Lanka still retain any hope going into the final day of this series, it will rest on the shoulders of Sonal Dinusha, batting on 7 in his final innings of a remarkable series. Earlier in the day, he had converted his overnight 85 into his second century of the series, with his only other completed innings bringing him 84.
Scores:
Sri Lanka 290 in 89.4 overs (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 80, Sonal Dinusha 103; Prasidh Krishna 3-52, Manav Suthar 3-85) and 229 for 6 in 72.4 overs (f/o) (Pasindu Sooriyabandara 92, Kamindu Mendis 55, Sonal Dinusha 7*; Manav Suthar 2-81) lead India 503 for 9 dec by 16 runs
[Cricinfo]
- Confirmation of the minutes of the 94th Annual General Meeting of BCCI held on September 28, 2025, at BCCI Headquarters, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Election and induction of 2 (two) representatives of the General Body in the Governing Council of the IPL.
- Induction of 1 (one) representative of the Indian Cricketer’s Association in the Governing Council of the IPL.
- Adoption of the Report of the Secretary for the year 2025-26 under review.
- Copies of the audited Statement of Accounts of BCCI for the year FY 2025-2026 including schedule for any tour or tours.
- Adoption of the Treasurer’s Report and the audited accounts for the year FY 2025-2026.
- Adoption of the Annual Budget for FY 2026-27.
- Appointment of the Auditor or Auditors for FY 2026-27 and fix their remuneration.
- Appointment of the Ombudsman and Ethics Officer.
- Appointment of the Standing Committees, Cricket Committees and Umpire Committee as mentioned in Rules 25, 26 and 27 respectively.
- Consideration of:(a) The Report and recommendations of the Apex Council, the CEO and the Committees and to propose policy directions to the Apex Council.(b) The Report and recommendations of the Governing Council and to propose policy directions to the Governing Council.(c) The reports of the Ombudsman and Ethics Officer and any recommendations made therein.
- Report of the Internal Committee of BCCI formed under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Policy.
- Grant of Associate Membership to Cricket Association Andaman & Nicobar Island for the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- Consideration of any motion, notice whereof is given by a Full Member to the Secretary, 21 (twenty-one) days before the meeting.
- To appoint the BCCI’s Representative or Representatives on the International Cricket Council and/or any similar organization.
- Ratification of rules framed by the Apex Council, in terms of Rule 15 of BCCI’s Rules and Regulations.
- Consideration of any business, which the President may consider necessary to be included in the agenda.
- Transaction of any other business of an informal character as may be permitted by the Chairperson.
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