Dambulla Thunders
| League | Lanka Premier League | |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | ||
| Captain | Kusal Mendis | |
| Coach | Avishka Gunawardene | |
| Owner | Imperial Sports Group | |
| Team information | ||
| City | Dambulla, Central Province, Sri Lanka | |
| Colours | Blue | |
| Founded | 2020: Dambulla Viiking 2021: Dambulla Giants 2022: Dambulla Aura 2024: Dambulla Thunders | |
| Home ground | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla | |
| Capacity | 16,800 | |
| History | ||
| LPL wins | 0 | |
| ||
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).
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 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]
- Players with international caps are listed in bold.
| No. | Name | Nationality | Date of birth | Batting style | Bowling style | Year signed | Salary (US$) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | ||||||||
| Iftikhar Ahmed |  Pakistan
|
3 September 1990 | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 50,000 | Overseas | |
| Haider Ali | Pakistan
|
2 October 2000 | Right handed | — | 2024 | 25,000 | Overseas | |
| Nuwanidu Fernando |  Sri Lanka
|
13 October 1999 | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 34,000 | ||
| Asela Gunaratne | Sri Lanka
|
8 January 1986 | Right handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | 10,000 | ||
| Santhush Gunathilake | Sri Lanka
|
14 September 1999 | Right handed | — | 2024 | 6,000 | ||
| Ibrahim Zadran |  Afghanistan
|
12 December 2001 | Right handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | Direct signing | Overseas | |
| Hazratullah Zazai | Afghanistan
|
23 March 1998 | Left handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2024 | 50,000 | Overseas | |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||||
| Sohan de Livera | Sri Lanka
|
17 August 2000 | Left handed | — | 2024 | 5,000 | ||
| Ranesh Silva | Sri Lanka
|
24 January 2002 | Right handed | — | 2024 | 5,000 | ||
| Lahiru Udara | Sri Lanka
|
27 November 1993 | Right handed | — | 2024 | 14,000 | ||
| All-rounders | ||||||||
| Akila Dananjaya | Sri Lanka
|
4 October 1993 | Left handed | Right-arm off break, Right-arm leg break | 2024 | 20,000 | ||
| Sonal Dinusha | Sri Lanka
|
4 December 2000 | Left handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2024 | 6,000 | ||
| Rusanda Gamage | Sri Lanka
|
5 October 2004 | Left handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 5,000 | ||
| Danushka Gunathilaka | Sri Lanka
|
17 March 1991 | Left handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 22,000 | ||
| 34 | Dushan Hemantha | Sri Lanka
|
24 May 1994 | Right handed | Right-arm leg break | 2023 | Retained | |
| Karim Janat | Afghanistan
|
11 August 1998 | Right handed | Right-arm medium | 2024 | 80,000 | Overseas | |
| Mithun Jayawickrama | Sri Lanka
|
28 June 1990 | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 5,000 | ||
| Lahiru Madushanka | Sri Lanka
|
12 September 1992 | Right handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2024 | 20,000 | ||
| Ayana Siriwardhana | Sri Lanka
|
8 April 1999 | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 5,000 | ||
| Spin bowlers | ||||||||
| 92 | Praveen Jayawickrama | Sri Lanka
|
30 September 1998 | Right handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2023 | Retained | |
| Pace bowlers | ||||||||
| Dilshan Madushanka | Sri Lanka
|
18 September 2000 | Right handed | Left-arm fast-medium | 2024 | Direct signing | ||
| Nuwan Pradeep | Sri Lanka
|
19 October 1986 | Right handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2024 | 36,000 | ||
| Mustafizur Rahman |  Bangladesh
|
6 September 1995 | Left handed | Left-arm fast-medium | 2024 | Direct signing | Overseas | |
| Nuwan Thushara | Sri Lanka
|
6 August 1994 | Right handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | Direct signing | ||
Sources: ESPNcricinfo[10], ThePapare.com[11]
Statistics[edit]
Most runs[edit]
- As of 19 August 2023
| Runs | Player | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| 544 | Dasun Shanaka | 2020–2022 |
| 421 | Niroshan Dickwella | 2020–2021 |
| 301 | Phil Salt | 2021 |
| 239 | Avishka Fernando | 2023 |
| 227 | Angelo Perera | 2020 |
- Source: CricInfo[12]
Highest individual score[edit]
- As of 19 August 2023
| Runs | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Gladiators | Colombo | 17 December 2022 |
| 75 * | Chamika Karunaratne | Jaffna Kings | Hambantota | 21 December 2021 |
- Source: CricInfo[13]
Most wickets[edit]
- As of 19 August 2023
| Wickets | Player | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Imran Tahir | 2021 |
| 13 | Ramesh Mendis | 2020–2022 |
| 12 | Noor Ahmad | 2022–2023 |
| 10 | Dhananjaya de Silva | 2023 |
| 10 | Nuwan Pradeep | 2021 |
- Source: CricInfo[14]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "SLC approves termination of Colombo Kings and Dambulla Viiking". CricBuzz. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "Colombo Kings, Dambulla Viiking terminate contracts, withdraw from LPL 2021". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "IPG announces new owner for Dambulla Giants". DailyFT. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "Aura Lanka Group secures ownership of Dambulla Team in LPL". Daily News. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Dambulla franchise rebranded as Dambulla Thunders for LPL 2024". ThePapare. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ Sanjeewa, Kanishka (22 May 2024). "Team Owner of Dambulla Thunders arrested for match-fixing charges". ThePapare. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "LPL terminates contract with Dambulla Thunders following owner's arrest". ESPNcricinfo. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "2024 LPL to go ahead as scheduled; Dambulla franchise to receive new ownership". Ada Derana. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Aura Lanka chairman Viranjith Thambugala arrested". Newswire. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Pathirana, Udana, Janat the most expensive picks in LPL 2024 auction". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
- ^ "LPL 2024 Auction: Full Squads of all 5 Teams". ThePapare. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
- ^ "Most career runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ "Highest individual score". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ ESPNcricinfo, Last Updated: 20 December 2021
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| Teams | |
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