Dambulla Thunders

Last updated

Dambulla Thunders
League Lanka Premier League
Personnel
Captain Kusal Mendis
Coach Avishka Gunawardene
OwnerImperial Sports Group
Team information
City Dambulla, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Colours  Blue
Founded2020: Dambulla Viiking
2021: Dambulla Giants
2022: Dambulla Aura
2024: Dambulla Thunders
Home ground Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Capacity16,800
History
LPL  wins0
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T20I kit

Dambulla Thunders, previously Dambulla Aura, Dambulla Viiking, and Dambulla Giants, are a franchise Twenty20 cricket team based in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, that competes in the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Contents

In June 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) terminated the franchise ahead of the 2021 Lanka Premier League, due to financial issues. [1] [2] In September 2021, the team changed their name to Dambulla Giants after changing owners. [3] Then, prior to the 2022 season, Aura Lanka brought the franchise and changed its name to Dambulla Aura. [4]

Seasons

YearLeague standingFinal standing
2020 2nd out of 5Semi-finalists
2021 4th out of 5Playoffs
2022 5th out of 5Group stage
2023 1st out of 5Runners up

2024 season

In 2024, the team was purchased by Imperial Sports Group, who renamed it Dambulla Thunders. [5] Tamim Rahman, a co-owner of Dambulla Thunders, a British national of Bangladeshi origin, was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport a day after the 2024 LPL player auction. The special investigating unit for preventing sports-related offences of the Ministry of Sports made the arrest. [6] Following the arrest, LPL terminated its contract with Dambulla Thunders with immediate effect. [7] Innovative Production Group (IPG), the organisers of LPL announced, the fifth edition of the league will continue as planned despite the events related to Dambulla Thunders. IPG further stated that the Dambulla franchise will participate in the league under new ownership. [8] Incidentally, Viranjith Thambugala, chairman of Aura Lanka, the previous owner of Dambulla franchise, was arrested by Sri Lanka Police over allegations of financial fraud on the same day. [9]

Current squad

No.NameNationalityDate of birthBatting styleBowling styleYear signedSalary
(US$)		Notes
Batters
Iftikhar Ahmed Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 3 September 1990 (age 33)Right handedRight-arm off break 202450,000Overseas
Haider Ali Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 2 October 2000 (age 23)Right handed—202425,000Overseas
Nuwanidu Fernando Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 13 October 1999 (age 24)Right handedRight-arm off break 202434,000
Asela Gunaratne Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 8 January 1986 (age 38)Right handedRight-arm medium-fast 202410,000
Santhush Gunathilake Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 14 September 1999 (age 24)Right handed—20246,000
Ibrahim Zadran Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan 12 December 2001 (age 22)Right handedRight-arm medium-fast 2024Direct signingOverseas
Hazratullah Zazai Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan 23 March 1998 (age 26)Left handed Slow left-arm orthodox 202450,000Overseas
Wicket-keepers
Sohan de Livera Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 17 August 2000 (age 23)Left handed—20245,000
Ranesh SilvaFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 24 January 2002 (age 22)Right handed—20245,000
Lahiru Udara Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 27 November 1993 (age 30)Right handed—202414,000
All-rounders
Akila Dananjaya Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 4 October 1993 (age 30)Left handedRight-arm off break, Right-arm leg break 202420,000
Sonal Dinusha Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 4 December 2000 (age 23)Left handed Slow left-arm orthodox 20246,000
Rusanda GamageFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 5 October 2004 (age 19)Left handedRight-arm off break 20245,000
Danushka Gunathilaka Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 17 March 1991 (age 33)Left handedRight-arm off break 202422,000
34 Dushan Hemantha Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 24 May 1994 (age 30)Right handedRight-arm leg break 2023Retained
Karim Janat Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan 11 August 1998 (age 25)Right handedRight-arm medium 202480,000Overseas
Mithun Jayawickrama Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 28 June 1990 (age 33)Right handedRight-arm off break 20245,000
Lahiru Madushanka Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 12 September 1992 (age 31)Right handedRight-arm fast-medium 202420,000
Ayana Siriwardhana Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 8 April 1999 (age 25)Right handedRight-arm off break 20245,000
Spin bowlers
92 Praveen Jayawickrama Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 30 September 1998 (age 25)Right handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2023Retained
Pace bowlers
Dilshan Madushanka Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 18 September 2000 (age 23)Right handedLeft-arm fast-medium 2024Direct signing
Nuwan Pradeep Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 19 October 1986 (age 37)Right handedRight-arm fast-medium 202436,000
Mustafizur Rahman Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 6 September 1995 (age 28)Left handedLeft-arm fast-medium 2024Direct signingOverseas
Nuwan Thushara Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka 6 August 1994 (age 29)Right handedRight-arm medium-fast 2024Direct signing

Sources: ESPNcricinfo [10] , ThePapare.com [11]

Statistics

Most runs

As of 19 August 2023
RunsPlayerSeasons
544 Dasun Shanaka 2020–2022
421 Niroshan Dickwella 2020–2021
301 Phil Salt 2021
239 Avishka Fernando 2023
227 Angelo Perera 2020

Highest individual score

As of 19 August 2023
RunsPlayerOppositionVenueDate
87 Kusal Mendis Colombo Strikers Pallekele 5 August 2023
80 Shevon Daniel Galle Gladiators Colombo 17 December 2022
77 Upul Tharanga Galle Gladiators Hambantota 5 December 2020
77 Jordan Cox Galle GladiatorsColombo17 December 2022
75 * Chamika Karunaratne Jaffna Kings Hambantota21 December 2021

Most wickets

As of 19 August 2023
WicketsPlayerSeasons
15 Imran Tahir 2021
13 Ramesh Mendis 2020–2022
12 Noor Ahmad 2022–2023
10 Dhananjaya de Silva 2023
10 Nuwan Pradeep 2021

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "SLC approves termination of Colombo Kings and Dambulla Viiking". CricBuzz. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  2. ↑ "Colombo Kings, Dambulla Viiking terminate contracts, withdraw from LPL 2021". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  3. ↑ "IPG announces new owner for Dambulla Giants". DailyFT. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "Aura Lanka Group secures ownership of Dambulla Team in LPL". Daily News . 6 December 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  5. ↑ "Dambulla franchise rebranded as Dambulla Thunders for LPL 2024". ThePapare. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  6. ↑ Sanjeewa, Kanishka (22 May 2024). "Team Owner of Dambulla Thunders arrested for match-fixing charges". ThePapare. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "LPL terminates contract with Dambulla Thunders following owner's arrest". ESPNcricinfo . 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "2024 LPL to go ahead as scheduled; Dambulla franchise to receive new ownership". Ada Derana . 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "Aura Lanka chairman Viranjith Thambugala arrested". Newswire. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  10. ↑ "Pathirana, Udana, Janat the most expensive picks in LPL 2024 auction". ESPNcricinfo . Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "LPL 2024 Auction: Full Squads of all 5 Teams". ThePapare. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "Most career runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Highest individual score". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  14. ↑ ESPNcricinfo, Last Updated: 20 December 2021


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