Lanka Premier League 2020 Predictions & Betting Tips

Angelo Mathews captains the Colombo Kings, who have recruited T20 icon Andre Russell as their most prominent marquee overseas player.

Home stars include bowler Isuru Udana and batsman Dinesh Chandimal, while Qais Ahmad, Laurie Evans, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Manpreet Gony and Karim Sadiq are the other overseas players.

Spinner Ahmad has made his mark in T20 franchise cricket already, while this is the sort of tournament big-hitting Evans has put his stamp on in the past.

Dasun Shanka’s Dambulla Viiking originally selected David Miller and Carlos Brathwaite only to have both drop out.

Still, their overseas players will make for a formidable opening partnership – whichever way around they are picked.

Ireland’s Paul Stirling, West Indian duo Johnson Charles and Lendl Simmons and Pakistan’s Kamran Akmal mean there will be no shortage of batting quality for Viiking.

Lasith Malinga is the stand-out player for Galle Gladiators because of his reputation in Sri Lanka, but their overseas stars are big names in T20 cricket too.

Malinga is one of the best death bowlers in the history of the shortest format, while Pakistan duo Mohammad Amir and Shahid Afridi are much-sought after T20 stars too.

Colin Ingram has pulled out and another overseas star, Chadwick Walton, lacks consistency in T20 cricket, however. They have the star attractions but strength in depth could be lacking.

His England selection means Dawid Malan – the world’s top T20i batsman in the ICC rankings – has dropped out, which is a big blow for the Stallions.

Still, Shoaib Malik is a top T20 star even in his twilight years, and Kyle Abbott, Duanne Olivier, Ravi Bopara and Tom Moores have all made their mark in the English game.

Home players include captain Thisara Perera and spinner Wanindu Hasaranga. Malan’s absence is a blow, but this is a well-balanced squad with some good experience.

Kandy Tuskers are another team to have been hit by drop-pits. That includes Chris Gayle, Liam Plunkett and Wahab Riaz and all three would have made a difference.

Irfan Pathan and Sohail Tanvir offer quality and experience with the ball, though the former has previously announced his retirement from cricket to pursue acting. He was unpicked in his last three IPL auctions, which tells its own story.

Kandy’s strength instead lies with their home players. Kusal Perera leads the team, and Kusal Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Seekkuge Prasanna and Asela Gunaratne are all on board too.