LPL 2020: Andre Russell, Faf du Plessis And Three Other Overseas Players Opt Out of Lanka Premier League

Five foreign players, including Faf du Plessis, Andre Russell and David Miller, have withdrawn from the first Lanka Premier League (LPL). Undoubtedly it is a big shock to the organizers of the tournament.

Miller and Du Plessis of South Africa and Dawid Malan of England will not be able to play in this league due to the limited-overs series between these two teams, while West Indies’ Russell has pulled out due to a knee injury.

Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Manvinder Bisla is the fifth foreign player to withdraw from the tournament to be held from November 21 to December 13. Bisla has also played 35 matches in the Indian Premier League. Russell, Miller, Duplessis and Malan were chosen as marquee players. Their withdrawal is a big setback for the tournament.

“The franchises that had these players will have to negotiate with other players to take their place,” LPL director Ravin Wickramaratne told ESPNcricinfo.

Russell, Malan, Du Plessis were all selected as marquee players which means that franchisees won’t be bounded by the constraints of draft payment if they look out for new players. However, it was already assumed that players from South Africa and England would pull out from the tournament when the dates of their series would be finalized.

The Lanka Premier League is scheduled to be played from November 21 to December 13, 2020, at two venues – Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy and Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota.