Kaveen Wijerathna
Kandy Falcons
Probable First XI
Andre Fletcher / Minod /Brevis /Kamindu (C) / Ashen / Chamika /Fabien /Brathwaite/Wanidu /Udana /Matheesha
Kamindu Mendis likely to captain Kandy . Kandy have a good lower middle order with players like Brathwaite ,Fabien,Wanidu and Chamika
Udana and Matheesha will take care of Fast bowling department with support of 2 Allrounders Chamika and Brathwaite
Wanidu and Allen will be the main spin options
Weaknesses
Top 5 seems to be bit inexperianced with young players like Brevis ,Minod and Ashen .It wont be a bad idea to strengthen their top order by Adding a player like Oshada or Nissanka from the Unsold List if given a Chance
Chances
I think for the first time in Lpl history ,Kandy will go pass the group stages
Colombo Stars
probable XI
Dickwella / D Lakshan /Charith/Angelo/Asif Ali/Chandimal /Pretorius/Seekkuge /Drakes/Vandersay/Naveen UL Haq/Ishan Jayarathna
Angelo will captain again .Colombo have a good sri lankan core with guys like Asalanka Dickwella Chandimal Angelo .This LPL will be crucial for Dickwella and Chandimal specially to seal the spot for the backup keeper in sri lankan squad
Weaknesses
Fast Bowling stocks seems to be bit thin in this Squad with only Naveen Ul Haq and Ishan Jayarathna can considerd as specialist fast bowlers .Should Traget to get a player like Asitha or Rajitha if they allow to pick players from unsold set
Chances
Will Qualify for knockouts probably with the strength of this squad
Galle Gladiators
Probable XI
Mendis/Gunathilaka/Nuwanidu/Azam Khan/S Rutherford/Imad Wasim/Faheem Ashraf/Pulina/Chameera/Sandakan/Thushara
Kusal Mendis likely to captain Galle They have picked a good team Eager to see how Young Nuwanidu performs in big stage and excited with the comeback Of Azam Khan
Weaknesses
Sandakan and Nuwan Thushara are good bowlers but also have a tendency to leak runs in pressure situations
Chances
I will be suprised if they dont make into the knockouts
Dambulla Giants
Probable XI
Darcy Short /Tim Seifert/Lasith Croospulle/Bhanuka Rajapaksha/Shanaka/Ben Cutting/Chathuranga De Silva/Ramesh/sandeep Lamichchane/Pramod Madushan/Kalana Perera
Shanaka will captain Dambulla for the 3 rd consecutive time .A very Explosive batting lineup with 4-5 power players like Bhanuka ,Cutting ,Shanaka .Excited to see how players like Seifert and Short adjust to sri lankan pitches
Weaknesses
Fast bowling department looks thin with only having young bowlers like Kalana and Pramod .Have a feeling that this side may struggle if pitches started to turn in latter end of the league . Should try to rope in players like Asitha or Kasun Rajitha if possible
Chances
Good chance to qualify for Knockouts
Jaffna Kings
Probable XI
Ashan Randika /Evin Lewis /De Silva/Sadeera/Malik/Thisara /Dunith/Hardus Viljoen/Maheesh/Binura/Dahani
2 time Champions Jaffna will again try to go all the way and make it 3 out of 3 .Jaffna will miss the services of Avishka and Wanidu who were 2 main pillers of this team last year .Good chance for Ashan Randika from Army sports club to show us whether he belongs to this level . Also this will be important for Sadeera to get back into national setup
Weaknesses
Batting Department of Jaffna is bit worrying this time specially the top 4 .Should try to get one of Oshada or Nissanka if possible into the squad
Chances
I have a feeling that this time Jaffna wont make into the playoffs