Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan and New Zealand opener Martin Guptill are both interested in being a part of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), Cricket Age reliably learns.
Pathan had called time on his cricket career earlier this year ending his two-decade association with the sport at the highest level. Pathan played 24 T20I matches for India in which he picked up 28 wickets. Pathan was also the part of the Indian team which won the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup in South Africa. Coming to his IPL career, Pathan has played a total of 177 T20s, while representing the likes of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rising Pune Supergiants, Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Irfan Pathan was last seen in action for India Legends during the Road Safety World Series back in March before COVID-19 brought the cricket season to a standstill.
The LPL 2020, which will be held from August 28 to September 20, 2020, is also likely to affect the Caribbean Premier League (CPL 2020), which is set to start next month in Trinidad. The CPL 2020 will begin on August 18 with the final scheduled for September 10 but the availability of Sri Lanka players is in serious doubt.
Sri Lanka cricketers Dasun Shanaka, Avishka Fernando, Wanidu Hasaranga and Bhanuka Rajapaksa were among the players who had requested the cricket board for NOCs to play in the CPL 2020. Apart from the CPL 2020, the LPL is also likely to affect teams in the upcoming IPL 2020. after the BCCI moved the cash-rich league to UAE. The IPL 2020 is scheduled to start from September 19, however, the arrival of Lanka pacers Lasith Malinga and Isuru Udana could be delayed.
Malinga was retained by Mumbai Indians, while Isuru Udana was roped in by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the IPL 2020 auction.
