Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana set a new record as the most expensive player in the history of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) auction. He was sold for USD 120,000 following a competitive bidding war on Tuesday, May 21. The Colombo Strikers acquired Pathirana, known for his sling action, by matching Galle Marvels’ bid using their Right To Match option.

Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana became the most expensive player in the history of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) auction, fetching USD 120,000 following a bidding war on Tuesday, May 21. The Colombo Strikers secured Pathirana, known for his sling action, by matching the Galle Marvels’ bid with their Right To Match option.

Matheesha Pathirana – Sold to #ColomboStrikers for US$ 120,000 #LPL2024 #LPLAuction

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) May 21, 2024

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On Tuesday, the Colombo Strikers bolstered their pace attack by signing Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed for USD 50,000. Additionally, they secured Afghanistan and KKR opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The team had already retained key players, including Chamika Karunaratne, Thisara Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nipun Dhananjaya, and overseas stars Shadab Khan and Glenn Phillips.

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Matheesha Pathirana’s price at the Lanka Premier League auction is nearly five times higher than his price in the Indian Premier League. The Sri Lankan fast bowler, who played for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and became an IPL star during his three-year stint with the five-time champions, was initially signed by CSK for Rs 20 lakh in 2022 as a replacement for New Zealand’s Adam Milne.

Matheesha Pathirana quickly became a fan favorite at CSK and earned a place as one of MS Dhoni’s favored players in the Super Kings squad. The Sri Lankan pacer played a crucial role in CSK’s title triumph in 2023, taking 19 wickets in 12 matches. However, his injury and subsequent early return to Sri Lanka significantly impacted CSK’s performance, leading to their early exit in the 2024 season. Pathirana managed to pick up 13 wickets in just 6 matches for CSK, who finished fifth in the 10-team table that year.

Matheesha Pathirana is set to showcase his skills next in the T20 World Cup, as he has been included in Sri Lanka’s strong squad for the tournament, which begins on June 1 in the USA and the West Indies.

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