Batter Avishka Fernando headlined the Lanka Premier League 2026 draft on Monday (June 1) as Jaffna Kings roped him in as the first pick. A strong Afghanistan star quotient was also the order of the day, with the likes of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ibrahim Zadran, Gulbadin Naib and Fazalhaq Farooqi finding takers, while 97 players were drafted overall.

After signing Fernando as their platinum local pick, Kings focused on bolstering their top-order stocks further with the acquisition of Kamil Mishara and Ibrahim Zadran, both of whom were picked in the gold round. Veteran all-rounder David Wiese and left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka were among the other big signings.

Colombo Kaps, who signed Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis ahead of the draft, secured the services of mystery spinner Mujeeb as their platinum overseas pick. Left-arm pacer Binura Fernando was the Kaps' platinum local signing.

Kandy Royals added experience in the form of wicketkeepers Kusal Perera and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, besides drafting in pacers Nuwan Thushara and Asitha Fernando. Royals also roped in Scotland all-rounder Brandon McMullen under the Associate Stars category, lending further all-round depth having signed Moeen Ali, Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews and India's Vijay Shankar prior to the draft.

Dambulla Sixers drafted mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana as their platinum local pick, while Afghan left-arm quick Farooqi was their platinum overseas pick. Sixers also opted for USA's Shadley van Schalkwyk, who picked up 13 wickets in four T20 World Cup games earlier this year, in the associate star round. Galle Gallants acquired former Sri Lankan white-ball skipper Charith Asalanka, having also signed Dasun Shanaka prior to the draft.

While the Sixers picked just 18 players, the Kings acquired 19 players in the draft. The remaining three teams all picked 20 players each to go with their pre-draft signings.

LPL 2026, which marks the sixth edition of the tournament, will run from July 17 to August 8 with matches to be played across four venues in Colombo, Dambulla and Pallekele.

LPL 2026 Squads

Colombo Kaps

Platinum picks: Binura Fernando (platinum local), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (platinum overseas)

Gold picks: Sadeera Samarawickrama (gold local), Milan Rathnayake (local), Janith Liyanage (gold local), Shahnawaz Dahani (gold overseas)

Classic picks: Jeffrey Vandersay (classic local), Thanuka Dabare (classic local), Movin Subasinghe (classic local), Mohammad Haris (classic overseas), Hasan Mahmud (classic overseas)

Other picks: Kushal Bhurtel (associate star), Malsha Tharupati (emerging U23), Sharujan Shanmuganathan (emerging U23), Wanuja Sahan (optional gold), Anthony Pragasam (optional classic)

Pre-signed players: Kusal Mendis (local icon), Kamindu Mendis (local star), Jimmy Neesham (overseas icon), Ben McDermott (overseas star)

Dambulla Sixers

Platinum picks: Maheesh Theekshana (platinum local), Fazalhaq Farooqi (platinum overseas)

Gold picks: Niroshan Dickwella (gold local), Pavan Rathnayake (gold local), Akila Dananjaya (gold local), Mohammad Wasim Jr (gold overseas)

Classic picks: Dhananjaya Lakshan (classic local), Ramesh Mendis (classic local), Sachita Jayathilake (classic local), Gulbadin Naib (classic overseas), Dian Forrester (classic overseas)

Other picks: Shadley van Schalkwyk (associate star), Vishva Kumara (emerging U23), Gayana Weerasinghe (emerging U23)

Pre-signed players: Dushmantha Chameera (local icon), Dinesh Chandimal (local star), Sahibzada Farhan (overseas icon), Reeza Hendricks (overseas star)

Galle Gallants

Platinum picks: Charith Asalanka (platinum local), Mohammad Nawaz (platinum overseas)

Gold picks: Pramod Madushan (gold local), Lasith Croospulle (gold local), Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (gold local), Akif Javed (gold overseas)

Classic picks: Sahan Archachige (classic local), Chamika Karunaratne (classic local), Tharindu Rathnayaka (classic local), Sam Harper (classic overseas), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (classic overseas)

Other picks: Haider Ali (associate star), Dinura Kalupahana (emerging U23), Uri Koththigoda (emerging U23), Kasun Rajitha (optional gold), Sachindu Colombage (optional classic)

Pre-signed players: Dasun Shanaka (local icon), Eshan Malinga (local star), Rassie van der Dussen (overseas icon), Litton Das (overseas star)

Jaffna Kings

Platinum picks: Avishka Fernando (platinum local), David Wiese (platinum overseas)

Gold picks: Dilshan Madushanka (gold local), Kamil Mishara (gold local), Traveen Matthew (gold local), Ibrahim Zadran (gold overseas)

Classic picks: Mohamed Shiraz (classic local), Chamindu Wickramasinghe (classic local), Nuwanidu Fernando (classic local), Sandeep Lamichhane (classic overseas), Lizaad Williams (classic overseas)

Other picks: Dipendra Singh Airee (associate star), Kugathas Mathulan (emerging U23), Praveen Manisha (emerging U23), Nishan Madushka (optional gold)

Pre-signed players: Bhanuka Rajapaksa (local icon), Dunith Wellalage (local star), Shakib Al Hasan (overseas icon), Taskin Ahmed (overseas star)

Kandy Royals

Platinum picks: Nuwan Thushara (platinum local), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (platinum overseas)

Gold picks: Kusal Perera (local gold), Asitha Fernando (local gold), Garuka Sanketh (local gold), Daniel Sams (gold overseas)

Classic picks: Vishen Halambage (classic local), Muditha Lakshan (classic local), Lahiru Udana (classic local), Dale Phillips (classic overseas), Zahir Khan (classic overseas)

Other picks: Brandon McMullen (associate star), Sahan Mihira (emerging U23), Dewa Pawan Sandesh de Silva (emerging U23), Dushan Hemantha (optional gold), Isitha Wijesundara (optional classic)

Pre-signed players: Wanindu Hasaranga (local icon), Angelo Mathews (local star), Moeen Ali (overseas icon), Vijay Shankar (overseas star)