The recently completed draft for the Lanka Premier League has seen a host of well-known overseas pros enter the mix in what will be the second edition of the tournament.

The T20 globetrotting will continue for the former Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis. He will be the icon overseas player for the Jaffna Kings, the defending champions. Fresh from a successful IPL stint with the Chennai Super Kings, du Plessis will be playing in Sri Lanka’s flagship T20 tournament for the first time. He may have missed out on the T20 World Cup, but he is continuing to enjoy his T20 freelancer status at this point.

In addition, the South African spin duo of Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi both got a contract with the Dambulla Giants and the Galle Gladiators. Shamsi has been at the top of the T20I bowling rankings, and will look to push on in friendly conditions. Tahir’s experience speaks for itself, and it’s very telling that even at 42, he is full of energy and raring to go whenever presented with opportunities.

Left-handed opening batter Cameron Delport, who is also a household name in T20 leagues around the world, will feature for the Kandy Warriors, while the Dambulla Giants have snapped up a powerful left-hander of their own – Rilee Rossouw. Both batters are back in the South African domestic scene, too. All in all, it will be exciting to see another captivating T20 league get underway soon, and it will definitely be a win-win situation all around. Sri Lanka have shown plenty of grit and determination in the recent T20WC, and the overseas stars will look to make an indelible positive impression.

The LPL is set to begin on December 5.