Avishka Fernando, Mujeeb Ur Rahman Headline LPL Draft Signings

Batter Avishka Fernando headlined the Lanka Premier League 2026 draft on Monday as Jaffna Kings roped him in as the first pick. A strong Afghanistan star quotient was also the order of the day, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib and Fazalhaq Farooqi finding takers, while 97 players were drafted overall.

After signing Fernando as their platinum local pick, Kings focused on bolstering their top-order stocks further with the acquisition of Kamil Mishara and Ibrahim Zadran, both picked in the gold round. Veteran all-rounder David Wiese and left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka were among the other big signings.

Colombo Kaps secured mystery spinner Mujeeb as their platinum overseas pick. Left-arm pacer Binura Fernando was the Kaps' platinum local signing.

Kandy Royals added experience in the form of wicketkeepers Kusal Perera and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, besides drafting in pacers Nuwan Thushara and Asitha Fernando. Royals also roped in Scotland all-rounder Brandon McMullen under the Associate Stars category, having signed Moeen Ali, Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews and Vijay Shankar prior to the draft.

Dambulla Sixers drafted mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana as their platinum local pick, while Afghan left-arm quick Farooqi was their platinum overseas pick. Sixers also opted for USA's Shadley van Schalkwyk in the associate star round. Galle Gallants acquired former Sri Lankan white-ball skipper Charith Asalanka, having also signed Dasun Shanaka prior to the draft.

LPL 2026 will run from July 17 to August 8 across four venues in Colombo, Dambulla and Pallekele.

Franchise Draft Breakdowns

Colombo Kaps

• Platinum picks: Binura Fernando (local), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (overseas)
• Gold picks: Sadeera Samarawickrama, Milan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage (local), Shahnawaz Dahani (overseas)
• Classic picks: Jeffrey Vandersay, Thanuka Dabare, Movin Subasinghe (local), Mohammad Haris, Hasan Mahmud (overseas)
• Other picks: Kushal Bhurtel (associate star), Malsha Tharupati, Sharujan Shanmuganathan (emerging U23), Wanuja Sahan (optional), Anthony Pragasam (optional)
• Pre-signed: Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Jimmy Neesham, Ben McDermott

Dambulla Sixers

• Platinum picks: Maheesh Theekshana (local), Fazalhaq Farooqi (overseas)
• Gold picks: Niroshan Dickwella, Pavan Rathnayake, Akila Dananjaya (local), Mohammad Wasim Jr (overseas)
• Classic picks: Dhananjaya Lakshan, Ramesh Mendis, Sachita Jayathilake (local), Gulbadin Naib, Dian Forrester (overseas)
• Other picks: Shadley van Schalkwyk (associate star), Vishva Kumara, Gayana Weerasinghe (emerging U23)
• Pre-signed: Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Sahibzada Farhan, Reeza Hendricks

Galle Gallants

• Platinum picks: Charith Asalanka (local), Mohammad Nawaz (overseas)
• Gold picks: Pramod Madushan, Lasith Croospulle, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (local), Akif Javed (overseas)
• Classic picks: Sahan Archachige, Chamika Karunaratne, Tharindu Rathnayaka (local), Sam Harper, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (overseas)
• Other picks: Haider Ali (associate star), Dinura Kalupahana, Uri Koththigoda (emerging U23), Kasun Rajitha (optional), Sachindu Colombage (optional)
• Pre-signed: Dasun Shanaka, Eshan Malinga, Rassie van der Dussen, Litton Das

Jaffna Kings

• Platinum picks: Avishka Fernando (local), David Wiese (overseas)
• Gold picks: Dilshan Madushanka, Kamil Mishara, Traveen Matthew (local), Ibrahim Zadran (overseas)
• Classic picks: Mohamed Shiraz, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Nuwanidu Fernando (local), Sandeep Lamichhane, Lizaad Williams (overseas)
• Other picks: Dipendra Singh Airee (associate star), Kugathas Mathulan, Praveen Manisha (emerging U23), Nishan Madushka (optional)
• Pre-signed: Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dunith Wellalage, Shakib Al Hasan, Taskin Ahmed

Kandy Royals

• Platinum picks: Nuwan Thushara (local), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (overseas)
• Gold picks: Kusal Perera, Asitha Fernando, Garuka Sanketh (local), Daniel Sams (overseas)
• Classic picks: Vishen Halambage, Muditha Lakshan, Lahiru Udana (local), Dale Phillips, Zahir Khan (overseas)
• Other picks: Brandon McMullen (associate star), Sahan Mihira, Dewa Pawan Sandesh de Silva (emerging U23), Dushan Hemantha (optional), Isitha Wijesundara (optional)
• Pre-signed: Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews, Moeen Ali, Vijay Shankar