Former Sri Lanka cricket captain and one of the most destructive batters of all-time, Sanath Jayasuriya, has been announced as the Brand Ambassador of the Lanka Premier League 2022. Jayasuriya, who is also a mentor for the Kandy Falcons franchise, is looking to give back to the game and help nurture young talent.
In a statement, Jayasuriya said he is excited about the ongoing season of the LPL and believes it will help in finding and unearthing new talents. He said, "This tournament is a great addition to the domestic cricket calendar and has found some great talents in Sri Lanka. It gives us an ideal platform to find and nurture the best cricketing talent. LPL is helping the country to build its T20I arsenal. I am sure that Sri Lanka national team will see many players from here, and I believe the national team has a bright future ahead of them."
The LPL has had a positive impact, according to Anil Mohan, Chairman and Managing Director of IPG Sports, the official promoter of the league. Mohan said, "The tournament has had a positive impact as we are getting good response from the audience who are coming to see the matches every day. The atmosphere during the matches is ecstatic, which also lifts the players' spirit on the field and motivates them to give their best every time."
Jayasuriya also praised the work of IPG in organizing the LPL. He said, "IPG has done a lot of hard work in organizing this league. It's not an easy thing to arrange a tournament of such a large scale like the LPL. We can see that several fans are coming to the stadium, which is a positive sign. I hope it goes from strength to strength."
As for the Kandy Falcons, they have won 5 out of 6 matches played and are currently top of the table. Jayasuriya said, "The team has been performing exceptionally well. Players like Isuru, and Wanindu among others are giving their best. We have so many young players who have impressed. It's a learning curve for the domestic players playing along with international stars who have tons of experience."
In addition to his role as Brand Ambassador and mentor, Jayasuriya is also offering guidance and advice to the players on the Kandy Falcons team. He said, "I am also talking to the players, giving them advice, whenever they come up to me. I am always there to help them. They are always looking to learn, which is a good thing as you become a better player by learning constantly." With Jayasuriya's guidance and the strong performances from the Kandy Falcons, it looks like the team is well on its way to a successful season in the Lanka Premier League.