Top 5 Overseas Players who went unsold at Lanka Premier League Auction 2023

Lanka Premier League was first introduced in 2018 as a franchise-based tournament to provide a platform for local and international cricketers to showcase their skills. The LPL provides an opportunity for young and emerging cricketers in Sri Lanka to play alongside established international stars. It also serves as a platform for players to gain experience in the shorter format of the game and catch the attention of selectors for national team considerations.

Lanka Premier League 2023 will be the sixth edition of the tournament and it is expected to be much more bigger and exciting. One of the important parts of the Lanka Premier League this year will be that it will also play an important role in reviving Sri Lanka’s cricket which is going through a tough time. For the 2023 edition of LPL, the auctions have been held and surprisingly, these 6 overseas players went unsold.

1) Rassie van der Dussen

It was a shock to Rassie van der Dussen went unsold during the auction even after carrying good form in the T20 international cricket and T20 cricket leagues happening across the globe. He has been part of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and the T20 Blast in England in the past. In these leagues, he has demonstrated his consistency and adaptability to different conditions.

He has contributed important innings for his respective teams, playing a role in their success. In his T20 international career, Dussen has been part of 41 matches for the Proteas squad and has scored 1044 runs at a strike rate of 128.71.

2) Sarfaraz Ahmed

Former Pakistan skipper, Sarfaraz Ahmed, was unable to convince the buyers in the Lanka Premier League auctions. In domestic T20 leagues, Sarfaraz has represented teams in various tournaments, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He has captained the Quetta Gladiators franchise in the PSL and has been a consistent performer for his team. Sarfaraz’s contributions to the bat and his skills behind the stumps have played a crucial role in the success of the Quetta Gladiators.

3) Martin Guptill

The 36-year-old Kiwi’s aggressive batter, Martin Guptill, also failed to make it to the list of buyers in the LPL auction. Guptill has consistently been among the top run-scorers in the T20 cricket leagues across the globe, showcasing his ability to dominate bowling attacks. His ability to clear the boundaries with ease and find gaps in the field makes him a sought-after player in T20 cricket.

Guptill’s explosive batting, fielding prowess, and experience in high-pressure situations make him a valuable asset in T20 cricket leagues. However, his age and absence from international cricket have been the main reason buyers have ignored him for LPL 2023.

4) Sikandar Raza

Sikandar Raza is a versatile all-rounder who has made valuable contributions with both bat and ball in T20 matches. As a batsman, he has showcased his ability to anchor the innings and play aggressive shots when required. Raza has the capability to rotate the strike effectively and find the boundaries. He has played crucial innings for Zimbabwe, often providing stability in the middle order and finishing the innings strongly. However, his performance in IPL was not as good as expected and probably because of the same reason he went unsold in the LPL auction.

5) Mohammad Hafeez

Hafeez has participated in several T20 leagues, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). He has showcased his skills as an all-rounder, contributing with both bat and ball. Hafeez is known for his ability to anchor the innings, score runs at a brisk pace, and provide crucial breakthroughs with his off-spin bowling. However, his age has been the primary reason for his recent below-average performances and hence LPL buyers ignored him during the auction.