The Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 started on July 1 and will conclude on July 21 in Sri Lanka.

As many as five teams will compete in a total of 24 matches across three weeks in the fifth edition of the Lanka Premier League.

Some of the world's top T20 batters including the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rilee Rossouw, Glenn Phillips, Kusal Mendis, Tim Seifert, Ibrahim Zadran, Pathum Nissanka and Towhid Hridoy are featuring in the Sri Lankan T20 League.

New Zealand’s experienced T20 batter Mark Chapman smashed the first fifty of LPL 2024. Representing Dambulla Sixers, Mark Chapman slammed an unbeaten 91 off 61 balls against defending champions Kandy Falcons in the opening match of the ongoing T20 tournament. 

Chapman’s scintillating fifty along with Chamindu Wickramasinghe’s 62 not out off 42 balls propelled Dambulla Sixers to 179/4 in their 20 overs at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.

In reply, Dinesh Chandimal (65), Dasun Shanaka (46 not out) and Angelo Mathews (37 not out) helped Kandy Falcons chase down the target in 17.2 overs to register a comprehensive six-wicket win.

Kandy Falcons (earlier B-Love Kandy) captain Wanindu Hasaranga finished with the most runs in the Lanka Premier League last season. The Sri Lanka T20 cricket team skipper scored 279 runs in 10 matches at an average of 34.87 and a strike rate of 189.79. 

Colombo Strikers�?former batter Babar Azam was the second-highest run-scorer in LPL 2023 with 261 runs in eight matches. 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s talented batter Avishka Fernando holds the record for the most runs in Lanka Premier League history. 

Having represented the likes of Dambulla Aura (now Dambulla Sixers) and Jaffna Kings, Avishka Fernando has accumulated 1,170 runs in 40 games at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 133.71.

With that being said, let’s have a look at the players with the most runs in Lanka Premier League 2024.  

Most runs in Lanka Premier League 2024

Pos	Player	Team	Matches	Runs
1	Avishka Fernando	Jaffna Kings	4	210
2	Pathum Nissanka	Jaffna Kings	4	178
3	Mark Chapman	Dambulla Sixers	3	154
4	Tim Seifert	Galle Marvels	3	126
5	Kusal Perera	Dambulla Sixers	3	118
6	Dinesh Chandimal	Kandy Falcons	3	115
7	Charith Asalanka	Jaffna Kings	4	110
8	Niroshan Dickwella	Galle Marvels	3	109
9	Alex Hales	Galle Marvels	3	102
10	Glenn Phillips	Colombo Strikers	3	96

Photo credit: Alamy

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 started on January 19 and ended on March 1.

As many as seven teams are competing in a total of 46 matches across six weeks in the 10th edition of the BPL.

Some of the most talented T20 batters including the likes of Babar Azam, Tamim Iqbal, Avishka Fernando, Mushfiqur Rahim,Najibullah Zadran and Litton Das are featured in the Bangladesh T20 League.

Veteran batter Imrul Kayes slammed the first fifty of BPL 2024. Representing defending champions Comilla Victorians, Imrul Kayes scored 66 off just 56 balls against Durdanto Dhaka in the opening match of the ongoing T20 tournament at  Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. 

Pakistan talisman Babar Azam also started his BPL 2024 campaign on a good note. Babar Azam scored a scintillating half-century for Rangpur Riders against Sylhet Strikers.

The likes of Mushfiqur Rahim, Zakir Hasan, Avishka Fernando and Tanzid Hasan have also produced some brilliant batting performances for their respective franchises in the ongoing BPL.

Sylhet Strikers�?Najmul Hossain Shanto  finished with the most runs in the BPL last season. The flamboyant left-handed batter scored 516 runs in 15 matches at an average of 39.69 and a strike rate of 116.74. 

Rony Talukdar of Rangpur Riders was the second-highest run-scorer with 425 runs in 13 matches. 

Meanwhile, star wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim holds the record for the most runs in BPL history. Between 2012 and 2024, Rahim has scored 3,084 runs in 116 matches with 20 fifties to his name.

Here’s a look at the players with most runs in BPL 2024.

Most runs in BPL 2024: Know the top run-scorers in the Bangladesh Premier League

Player	Team	Matches	Runs
Tamim Iqbal	Fortune Barishal	15	492
Towhid Hridoy	Comilla Victorians	14	462
Litton Das	Comilla Victorians	14	391
Tanzid Hasan	Chattogram Challengers	12	384
Mushfiqur Rahim	Fortune Barishal	15	380
Alex Ross	Durdanto Dhaka	11	352
Mohammad Naim	Durdanto Dhaka	12	310
Anamul Haque	Khulna Tigers	12	296
James Neesham	Rangpur Riders	7	291
Tom Bruce	Chattogram Challengers	9	278

Photo credit: Alamy

Pakistan haven't played in Pakistan in ages and Sri Lanka haven't played in Pakistan in a decade. Bangladesh and Afghanistan are, meanwhile, in a give and take tussle all through the month.

Thus, the task is cut out for Nostragamus fantasy managers this week but we have made it easier by shortlisting five must-picks in your Fantasy team this week.

BABAR AZAM

Country: Pakistan

Match/Series: Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODIs 

The most exciting Pakistan batsman, Babar Azam has been rewriting record books with his impeccable consistency in the fifty-overs format. He averages 59.12 in the format this year and has two hundreds and a strike rate nearly touching 90. Just 56 short of 1000 runs in the calendar year, Azam should be a must pick this week in your fantasy team.

MOHAMMAD NABI 

Country: Afghanistan

Match/Series: Afghanistan - Bangladesh - Zimbabwe T20Is 

After a fantastic 84 in 54 balls early in the series, Nabi's returns have dwindled a bit but he is a big match player and the tri-series finals should motivate him enough to put up another compelling performance. Add in his consistent bowling and he becomes the most valuable fantasy asset this week, or any week they play for that matter.

SHAKIB AL HASAN 

Country: Bangladesh

Match/Series: Afghanistan - Bangladesh - Zimbabwe T20Is 

Shakib is to Bangladesh what Nabi is to Afghanistan. The Bangladesh skipper and all-rounder redeemed the reputation of the hosts with a match-winning knock in the dead rubber against Afghanistan last week to hand the Blue Tigers their second defeat on this tour. Shakib remains a gun player in fantasy and is a no-brainer for the all-important finals.

AVISHKA FERNANDO 

Country: Sri Lanka

Match/Series: Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODIs 

If you are looking at the Sri Lankan team and wondering whom to pick, look no further than Avishka Fernando. The dynamic middle-order batsman smacked a century in the World Cup and has averaged a healthy 36+ in the format this year. A strike rate nearly touching 99 in the format in 2019 further backs Fernando's selection.

USMAN SHINWARI 

Country: Pakistan

Match/Series: Pakistan v Sri Lanka ODIs

Usman Khan Shinwari was a shock omission from Pakistan's World Cup team if you were following the Men in Green closely enough. The left-arm seamer has played only 15 ODIs but has 28 wickets at an average of 19.32 and an economy less than 5. Three four-wicket hauls aside from a five-wicket haul make him a must pick in your fantasy side, especially since he is back to prove a point.

Don’t waste any time. Log on to NostraGamus and start building your team. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lindsey Parnaby

Avishka Fernando hit a quick-fire half-century as Sri Lanka eased to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the second one-day international to seal the three-match series in Colombo on Sunday.

Opener Fernando made 82 off 75 balls, helping Sri Lanka reach 242-3 in 44.4 overs after Bangladesh were restricted to 238-8, despite wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim making an unbeaten 98 runs.

Fernando and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne set the tone for Sri Lanka’s run chase with a 71-run stand before Bangladesh had their first success through off-spinner Mehidy Hasan.

Mehidy bowled Karunaratne for 15 but Fernando and Kusal Perera continued the hosts' onslaught to put Sri Lanka, who won Friday’s opening game by 91 runs, firmly in control. 

Mustafizur Rahman dismissed Fernando and Perera, who made 30 off 34 balls, in quick succession to revive Bangladesh’s hopes but Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews denied them further success.

Mathews struck occasional leg-spinner Sabbir Rahman for a four to complete Sri Lanka’s win. He was unbeaten on 52 runs facing 57 balls.

He was well supported by Mendis, 41 not out, in an unbroken 96-run fourth-wicket stand.

"I am disappointed to not get to the three-figure mark and hopefully I can convert my starts into bigger knocks in the future," said man-of-the-match Fernando.

"The track was a bit slow and also spun a bit. I am glad that I was able to make a contribution," he added.

Mustafizur finished with 2-50 for Bangladesh.

Mushfiqur falls short

Bangladesh had Mushfiqur to thank for providing them something to fight with after their top-order crumbled for the second time in the series.

Mushfiqur slammed six fours and a six in a 110-ball innings to bail out Bangladesh who lost their first six wickets for 117 runs.

Mushfiqur and number eight Mehidy shared 84 runs, a seventh-wicket record for Bangladesh against Sri Lanka to give the visitors' innings some respectability.

Mehidy made 43 off 46 balls with six boundaries before he was caught by Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne at mid-off off Nuwan Pradeep.

Pradeep, fellow pace bowler Isuru Udana and leg-spinner Akila Dananjaya claimed two wickets each for Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh were in trouble soon after skipper Tamim Iqbal won the toss and elected to bat at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Pradeep trapped opener Soumya Sarkar leg-before for 11 before Tamim dragged a Udana delivery onto his stump after making 19.

Dananjaya removed Mohammad Mithun for 12 and bowled Mahmudullah Riyad for six before Sabbir Rahman's run out for 11 compounded Bangladesh's woes.

Mushfiqur began his fightback with Mehidy after Udana had Mosaddek Hossain caught by Kusal Perera for 13.

Mushfiqur went off the strike in the fifth ball of the final over to miss out on his eighth ODI hundred by just two runs.

The third and final match of the series will be held at the same venue on Wednesday.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Ishara S. Kodikara

With the Cricket World Cup heading into the semi-finals, the tournament is set for a dramatic conclusion featuring some of the game's finest talents.

But the group stage also introduced the world to several vibrant young talents set to dominate cricket for years to come.

Here, we look at five players who have announced their arrival as potential stars:

Nicholas Pooran (West Indies)

Nicholas Pooran finally showcased the talent he has promised to unleash for so long as the batsman finished as the West Indies' leading run scorer.

The 23-year-old made a duck on his ODI debut before the World Cup but went on to play each of the team's nine group games, scoring 367 runs at an average of 52.42.

West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick had seen Pooran's potential five years ago when he scored 143 in an Under-19 World Cup match against Australia.

"I've always believed in Nicholas. I'm not surprised by his talent. What's surprised me is it's taken as long as this for him to come through," Estwick said.

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan)

AFP / Olly Greenwood

Pakistan paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi enjoyed a breakthrough World Cup campaign, prompting Wasim Akram to hail the teenager as a future star.

The teenager recorded Pakistan's best-ever World Cup bowling figures with a scintillating spell of 6-35 in Friday's win over Bangladesh at Lord's.

He became the youngest player to take a five-wicket haul at the World Cup at 19 years and 90 days, finishing the tournament with 16 wickets in five games.

"Definitely, Shaheen is one for the future, a beacon of light for the next generation of fast bowlers," Wasim told AFP.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan)

AFP / Saeed Khan

Afghanistan may have left the World Cup winless after losing all nine matches, but the minnows could take heart from the rise of teenage off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Mujeeb took just seven wickets in the tournament, but the 18-year-old tormented batsmen with his crafty use of flight and variation, marking him out as one to watch.

Rashid Khan, his senior by two years, remains Afghanistan's number one spinner, but Mujeeb is coming up fast, as he proved with a superb spell of 3-39 against Bangladesh in Southampton.

Avishka Fernando (Sri Lanka)

AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar

When Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne reflected on a frustrating campaign for the 1996 champions, the promising form of fearless batsman Avishka Fernando put a smile back on his face.

The 21-year-old scored 203 runs in only four matches in the tournament, including 104 against the West Indies and 49 in Sri Lanka's shock win over England.

"We've had a few positives out of this World Cup," Karunaratne said. "Avishka Fernando is playing really well. 

"He showed what he can do, he can produce runs for Sri Lanka. He's one of the future stars."

Jofra Archer (England)

AFP / Paul Ellis

Barbados-born Jofra Archer has repaid England's faith with a dazzling breakthrough in his first major tournament.

Archer only became eligible to play for England earlier this year and was fast-tracked into the team just before the World Cup in a bid to make the most of the paceman's natural gifts.

The 24-year-old's combination of speed and accuracy made him unplayable at times.

He taken 17 wickets in England's run to the semi-finals, including a run of four successive three-wicket hauls, leading many to mark him down as the spearhead of his country's attack for years to come.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar

Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne has urged his country's cricket chiefs to help more players enter overseas Twenty20 leagues to make up for the limitations of their domestic structure.

Sri Lanka have failed to replicate their 1996 World Cup triumph in the current tournament, with the retirements of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara leaving them short of top-class talent.

Sri Lanka, who are already out of the race to reach the semi-finals, take on India in their final group game at Headingley on Saturday.

And Karunaratne said exposing Sri Lankan talent to international tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia's Big Bash is the best way to broaden their limited-overs experience.

"In Sri Lanka we have one domestic season. The players have only one chance to showcase their talent in a particular domestic season and we can identify players only that season," Karunaratne told reporters on Friday.

"We have to close that gap (between domestic and international cricket). We have to give a chance to the players to play in IPL, Big Bash or county cricket.

"We have to give them permission to play in overseas tournament to gain experience and come back. Those are the things I'm expecting from the cricket board after this World Cup."

Sri Lanka's veteran paceman Lasith Malinga has been part T20 leagues across the globe, recently winning the Indian T20 League title with Mumbai.

Karunaratne's team revived their flagging World Cup campaign by upsetting hosts England, but they soon suffered a loss to South Africa that shattered their last four hopes.

Karunaratne though has still taken out positives from the campaign as he singled out Avishka Fernando as a future star.  

"Avishka Fernando is doing really good. In the last three games, he showed that he can produce some runs for Sri Lanka and he is one of the future stars," he said.

"If you take the bowling line-up they did really well, especially (Lasith) Malinga and Nuwan Pradeep. Those are the positive points from this World Cup."

Fernando, 21, hit his maiden international century in the team's third win of the tournament against the West Indies on Monday, but that was not enough to make the semi-final cut.

Karunaratne, who was appointed captain just ahead of the World Cup after being out of the ODI side since the 2015 edition, said the country's cricket bosses are keen to start building a squad for the 2023 tournament.

"After 2015 we started to build the World Cup side but unfortunately the players who came in couldn't perform. We had to change a lot of players," he said.

"After this World Cup we are trying to have a special plan and identify the players who can give a good performance. We are trying to make a solid 15 players for the next World Cup."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Dibyangshu Sarkar

Former captain Mahela Jayawardene says Avishka Fernando can be the "spark" to reignite Sri Lanka after the 21-year-old hit his maiden one-day international ton against the West Indies.

Fernando's century on Monday helped secure Sri Lanka's third win of the tournament but it was too little too late for the Asian side, who cannot qualify for the semi-finals.

"It has been a tough couple of years for Sri Lanka but we have learned our lessons," Jayawardene wrote in a column for the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"It is important that we plan around a group of players who will be there for the next four years and I think Avishka has shown he has to be a big part of that."

"He will take a lot of confidence from this and he has now proven to himself that he can go on and do it on the international stage," added Jayawardene.

"I thought he might start the tournament but the selectors understandably went with experience. But as this tournament has progressed, it’s been clear we have needed a spark. And there it is."

Fernando was only drafted into the side for Sri Lanka's sixth match.

He impressed in making 49 in a shock win over England and was Sri Lanka's joint top scorer with 30 in a disappointing nine-wicket thrashing by South Africa.

Fernando will have another chance to shine when Sri Lanka round off their World Cup campaign against India on Saturday.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lindsey Parnaby

Sri Lanka held off a West Indies charge at Chester-le-Street on Monday to win an exciting battle of two World Cup also-rans by 23 runs.

Both teams came into the match aware they could not reach the semi-finals but the Caribbean side came close to pulling off the highest successful chase in World Cup history.

Sri Lanka batted brightly to post an imposing total of 338 for six in their 50 overs, thanks largely to Avishka Fernando's first one-day international century. That total looked beyond the West Indies in the early part of their innings, but Nicholas Pooran dug deep, also scoring his maiden ODI ton.

The West Indies found themselves in early trouble at 22-2, with Sunil Ambris and Shai Hope back in the dressing room, both dismissed by veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga. Chris Gayle flickered briefly but was caught for 35 from a steepling top edge by Jeffrey Vandersay off the bowling of Kasun Rajitha.

Pooran, 23, held the innings together but the West Indies' hopes were badly hit when Carlos Brathwaite was unluckily run out when bowler Isuru Udana diverted the ball into the stumps off his fingertips, with the batsman well out of his ground.

The West Indies looked down and out at 199-6 in the 35th over but Pooran put on 83 for the seventh wicket with Fabian Allen to keep them in the hunt before a second run-out.

The Caribbean side needed 31 runs off the final three overs when captain Dimuth Karunaratne summoned Angelo Mathews to bowl for the first time in an ODI since 2017. He struck with his first ball, removing a distraught Pooran, who slashed at an innocuous wide delivery and was caught behind by wicketkeeper Kusal Perera.

“Thing is that we had to get those two overs done. He put his hand up and said that he'll bowl the overs. He did a fantastic job and that's what I am expecting as a captain. Don't think he'll bowl too many but if needed, certainly he may chip in with a couple of overs,�?said Karunaratne during his post-match presentation.

Earlier, Fernando hit a sparkling maiden ODI century, with all of the top order chipping in to help him. The 21-year-old reached three figures off exactly 100 balls with eight fours and two sixes but was caught by Fabian Allen off the bowling of Sheldon Cottrell for 104.

“I think we were putting pressure on ourselves (before today's game) and weren't expressing properly. Today, we did that and the middle order batted well. Avishka was really good in his innings,�?added the Sri Lankan captain.

Sri Lanka revived their fading hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals by beating England but a heavy defeat to South Africa and results elsewhere ended their chances.

As for West Indies captain, Jason Holder, he knew exactly where his team gave away the game.

“Probably, a bit slow off the blocks. Sloppy on the field and gave away a few extra runs. In a format like this, these things matter. You've got to be better than that. I thought it was above-par. Was a free-scoring wicket, was a bit slow but still was a good track for strokeplay,�?said the skipper.

“I thought we pulled things back well at the end but our fielding gave them 30-40 runs extra. We were always backing ourselves to get across the line. Got into a really good position but then threw it away.

“That run out was crucial, as was Pooran's wicket. Maybe we could have taken it deeper. Definitely promising (to see talents like Pooran emerging) to see them play such fearless cricket. Just need to win (the final game) and end on a high.�?/p>

West Indies started the tournament with a thumping seven-wicket win against Pakistan but have not won a single match since, with their batsmen in particular letting them down.

Australia are still the only side mathematically certain of their place in the last four, with India, New Zealand and England currently occupying the other top-four slots. Pakistan and Bangladesh still have a chance of progressing.

 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lindsey Parnaby

Avishka Fernando smashed his first one-day international century as Sri Lanka scored an imposing 338-6 in their World Cup clash against the West Indies on Monday, with both sides playing only for pride.

Neither team can qualify for the semi-finals of the tournament after disappointing campaigns in England and Wales but that did not appear to dampen Sri Lanka's spirits as they attacked the West Indies bowlers with gusto.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne (32) put on 93 for the first wicket with Kusal Perera to lay a solid base at Chester-le-Street in the northeast of England.

Perera was run out for 64 to leave Sri Lanka 104-2 in the 19th over but Fernando kept up the momentum, building useful partnerships with Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne.

The 21-year-old reached three figures off exactly 100 balls with eight fours and two sixes but was caught by Fabian Allen off the bowling of Sheldon Cottrell for 104.

Thirimanne ended unbeaten, with 45 off 33 balls.

"I played hard and I am very happy to get a hundred in my first World Cup," said Fernando.

"They had fast bowlers but the wicket was two-paced. I am very happy to do this at a young age, I got a lot of support from my team-mates."

West Indies captain Jason Holder was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 2-59 off his 10 overs.

But, having chosen to field, the Caribbean side failed to keep a lid on the runs and face an uphill task if they are to record only their second victory of a miserable World Cup campaign.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 winners, shocked hosts England to breathe life into their campaign after a slow start but defeat by South Africa combined with other results mean they can no longer qualify for the last four from the 10-team group.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Lindsey Parnaby