Dambulla Sixers

Dambulla Sixers
LeagueLanka Premier League
Personnel
CaptainMohammad Nabi
CoachRangana Herath
OwnerSequoia Consultants, Inc.
Team information
CityDambulla, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Colours  Yellow
Founded2020: Dambulla Viiking
2021: Dambulla Giants
2022: Dambulla Aura
2024: Dambulla Sixers
Home groundRangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Capacity16,800
History
LPL wins0

T20I kit

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

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

[edit]
Year League standing Final standing
2020 2nd out of 5 Semi-finalists
2021 4th out of 5 Playoffs
2022 5th out of 5 Group stage
2023 1st out of 5 Runners up
2024 5th out of 5 Group stage

2024 season

[edit]

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

[edit]
No. Name Nat. Date of birth Batting style Bowling style Year signed Salary
(US$)
Notes
Batters
80 Mark Chapman  New Zealand (1994-06-27) 27 June 1994 (age 30) Left handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2024 Direct signing Overseas
Nuwanidu Fernando  Sri Lanka (1999-10-13) 13 October 1999 (age 25) Right handed Right-arm off break 2024 34,000
17 Reeza Hendricks  South Africa (1989-08-14) 14 August 1989 (age 35) Right handed Right-arm off break 2024 Direct signing Overseas
77 Towhid Hridoy  Bangladesh (2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 23) Right handed Right-arm off break 2024 Direct signing Overseas
18 Ibrahim Zadran  Afghanistan (2001-12-12) 12 December 2001 (age 22) Right handed Right-arm medium-fast 2024 Direct signing Overseas
Wicket-keepers
55 Kusal Janith Perera  Sri Lanka (1990-08-17) 17 August 1990 (age 34) Left handed 2024 Direct signing
Ranesh Silva  Sri Lanka (2002-01-24) 24 January 2002 (age 22) Right handed 2024 5,000
Lahiru Udara  Sri Lanka (1993-11-27) 27 November 1993 (age 30) Right handed 2024 14,000
All-rounders
4 Akila Dananjaya  Sri Lanka (1993-10-04) 4 October 1993 (age 31) Left handed Right-arm off break, Right-arm leg break 2024 20,000
Sonal Dinusha  Sri Lanka (2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 23) Left handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2024 6,000
70 Danushka Gunathilaka  Sri Lanka (1991-03-17) 17 March 1991 (age 33) Left handed Right-arm off break 2024 22,000
34 Dushan Hemantha  Sri Lanka (1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 (age 30) Right handed Right-arm leg break 2023 Retained
Sachitha Jayathilake  Sri Lanka (1997-02-24) 24 February 1997 (age 27) Right handed Right-arm leg break 2024 Direct signing
Lahiru Madushanka  Sri Lanka (1992-09-12) 12 September 1992 (age 32) Right handed Right-arm fast-medium 2024 20,000
7 Mohammad Nabi  Afghanistan (1985-01-01) 1 January 1985 (age 39) Right handed Right-arm off break 2024 Direct signing Overseas; Captain
Nimesh Vimukthi  Sri Lanka (1997-05-07) 7 May 1997 (age 27) Left handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2024 Direct signing
Chamindu Wickramasinghe  Sri Lanka (2002-09-06) 6 September 2002 (age 22) Left handed Right-arm medium 2024 Direct signing
Spin bowlers
92 Praveen Jayawickrama  Sri Lanka (1998-09-30) 30 September 1998 (age 26) Right handed Slow left-arm orthodox 2023 Retained
Pace bowlers
98 Dilshan Madushanka  Sri Lanka (2000-09-18) 18 September 2000 (age 24) Right handed Left-arm fast-medium 2024 Direct signing
Asanka Manoj  Sri Lanka (1997-03-23) 23 March 1997 (age 27) Right handed Right-arm fast-medium 2024 Direct signing
63 Nuwan Pradeep  Sri Lanka (1986-10-19) 19 October 1986 (age 37) Right handed Right-arm fast-medium 2024 36,000
90 Mustafizur Rahman  Bangladesh (1995-09-06) 6 September 1995 (age 29) Left handed Left-arm fast-medium 2024 Direct signing Overseas
53 Nuwan Thushara  Sri Lanka (1994-08-06) 6 August 1994 (age 30) Right handed Right-arm medium-fast 2024 Direct signing

Administration and support staff

[edit]
Position Name
Head Coach Rangana Herath
Mentor Roshan Mahanama
Bowling Coach Chamila Gamage
Fielding Coach Ruwin Peiris
Batting Coach Thilina Kandamby

Captains

[edit]
No. Player From To Mat Won Lost Tied NR Win%
1 Sri Lanka Dasun Shanaka 2020 2022 24 9 13 0 2 37.50
2 Sri Lanka Niroshan Dickwella 2021 2021 2 1 1 0 0 50.00
3 Zimbabwe Sikandar Raza 2022 2022 1 1 0 0 0 100.00
4 Sri Lanka Kusal Mendis 2023 2023 8 5 2 1 0 68.75
5 Sri Lanka Dhananjaya de Silva 2023 2023 2 2 0 0 0 100.00
6 Afghanistan Mohammad Nabi 2024 present 8 3 4 1 0 37.50

As of 16 July 2024

Statistics

[edit]

Most runs

[edit]
As of 19 August 2023
Runs Player Seasons
544 Sri Lanka Dasun Shanaka 2020–2022
421 Sri Lanka Niroshan Dickwella 2020–2021
301 England Phil Salt 2021
239 Sri Lanka Avishka Fernando 2023
227 Sri Lanka Angelo Perera 2020

Highest individual score

[edit]
As of 8 July 2024
Runs Player Opposition Venue Date
102* Sri Lanka Kusal Perera Jaffna Kings Pallekele 3 July 2024
91* New Zealand Mark Chapman Kandy Falcons 1 July 2024
87 Sri Lanka Kusal Mendis Colombo Strikers 5 August 2023
80 Sri Lanka Shevon Daniel Galle Gladiators Colombo 17 December 2022
South Africa Reeza Hendricks Jaffna Kings Dambulla 6 July 2024
Sri Lanka Kusal Perera Colombo Strikers 7 July 2024

Most wickets

[edit]
As of 19 August 2023
Wickets Player Seasons
15 South Africa Imran Tahir 2021
13 Sri Lanka Ramesh Mendis 2020–2022
12 Afghanistan Noor Ahmad 2022–2023
10 Sri Lanka Dhananjaya de Silva 2023
10 Sri Lanka Nuwan Pradeep 2021

Kit manufacturers and sponsors

[edit]
Year Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor (front) Shirt sponsor (back) Chest branding
2020 Planet Hollywood Life Bottled Water
2021 Hamro
2022 TigerExch Aura Lanka
2023 Babu88 Sports Kheloyar Aura Airlines Sri Lanka
2024 Mostplay.news Sequoia Consultants

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  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.com. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  12. ^ "LPL 2024 begins on July 1st : Final squads announced". Newswire.com. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Most career runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Highest individual score". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  15. ^ ESPNcricinfo, Last Updated: 20 December 2021