LPL co-owner arrested in Sri Lanka ahead of tournament opener

A co-owner of Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Jaffna Kings was arrested in Sri Lanka on Friday over allegations of attempting to bribe a player, hours before the start of the 2026 season.

Former India Under-19 cricketer Manjot Kalra, best known for his century in India's 2018 Under-19 World Cup final triumph, alongside entrepreneur Mayank Goel became part of the Jaffna Kings ownership group earlier this year.

"Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has taken note of the media reports relating to the reported arrest of the owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports," the board said in a media release.

Sri Lankan authorities allege that the co-owner attempted to offer money to a player. Investigators said the approach was reported by the player around 10 days ago, triggering an investigation that culminated in Friday's arrest.

The development comes on the opening day of the tournament, with Jaffna Kings scheduled to face Galle Gallants in the first match at the SSC in Colombo. SLC said the tournament will "proceed as planned without any interruption."

The board said it has independent Integrity Mentors in place for the 2026 edition to ensure a fair tournament.

"Sri Lanka Cricket has a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and unethical practices," the release added.