Gayle and Afridi international icons for SLPL

Pakistani allrounder Shahid Afridi and West Indies opener Chris Gayle have been named the two international iconic players for the inaugural Sri Lanka Twenty20 premier league (SLPL), Sri Lanka Cricket said.

The August 10-31 tournament will also feature Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene and former skippers Kumar Sangakkara and Tilakaratne Dilshan among the star-studded line-up, the governing body said in a statement on Tuesday.

Hard-hitting Gayle, will represent the Uva Province, while Afridi will play for Nagenahira, SLC said.

Sri Lanka Cricket has secured bids in excess of 30 million dollars (on average $4.3 million per team) from Indian companies to host its maiden T20, despite the BCCI's reluctance to allow Indian players to participate.


Each team can have six foreign players in their squad but with a provision that only four can be fielded in a playing XI.