The rise of T10 cricket has sparked excitement in franchise leagues globally, and Sri Lanka is set to join the trend with the inaugural Lanka T10 League. Bangladesh’s cricket icons, Shakib Al Hasan and Soumya Sarkar, will be among the featured players in the tournament, drawing fans from both home and abroad. Here’s a look at their teammates and more tournament insights.

Shakib Al Hasan in Galle Marvels Squad

Shakib Al Hasan, one of the most experienced players in international T10 circuits, will join Galle Marvels after being directly signed by the franchise. Following the draft, the finalized squad for Galle Marvels includes high-profile players such as Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Alex Hales, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, and Andre Fletcher. The squad is rounded out by Jeffrey Vandersay, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kesrick Williams, Sandun Urapola, and Zimbabwean talent Tadewanashe Marumani.

Soumya Sarkar Joins the Power-Packed Bangla Tigers Hambantota

Soumya Sarkar has been picked up by Bangla Tigers Hambantota, a team that combines emerging talent with international experience, creating a balanced lineup capable of challenging even Galle Marvels. The squad boasts players like Dasun Shanaka, Iftikhar Ahmed, Dushmantha Chameera, Kusal Perera, Richard Gleeson, Hazratullah Zazai, and Afghanistan's Karim Janat. Also in the mix are Isuru Udana, Mohammad Shahzad, Dhananjaya Lakshan, and emerging talent Chamath Gomez.

Lanka T10: A Fast-Paced Cricket Extravaganza

The Lanka T10, spearheaded by T10 Sports Management, is scheduled to launch in December with six teams battling it out in a round-robin format, culminating in playoffs. Besides Galle Marvels and Bangla Tigers Hambantota, the tournament includes teams Colombo Strikers, Kandy Bolts, Jaffna Titans, and Dambulla Jaguars Braves.

Potential Scheduling Conflict for Soumya Sarkar

While both Shakib and Soumya have secured spots in the Lanka T10, scheduling conflicts may arise. The league will run from December 12 to December 24, overlapping with Bangladesh’s series against the West Indies, which includes one ODI and three T20Is. Soumya’s participation may be limited if he is selected for the national team series, though Shakib’s involvement in the ODI game would likely allow him to join the T10 after the ODI is concluded.