The Champion CCC cricket team Head Coach Tharanga Dhammika has been appointed as Kandy Falcons’ Assistant Coach at the ongoing LPL cricket tournament as the second stage of this League, which will resume at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Tharanga for the first time is coaching an LPL side, his achievements at CCC paved the way for him to join a franchise tournament. CCC emerged champions three years in a row in the Premier League Cricket tournament and Tharanga Dhammika, a former Nalandian paceman, did an excellent job to bring CCC success. National Spin Coach Piyal Wijetunge, is the head coach of the Kandy team, the fielding coach, Manoj Abeywickrama, and Dharshana Gamage, the fast bowling coach, are putting in hard work.

Meanwhile, Thilina Kandamby, Sri Lanka ‘A’ team Assistant coach, former National player, and a former Anandian captain, is retained as the Jaffna Kings’ head coach. He inspired his side to win back-to-back LPL titles and will once again be looking to defend the title as they hold a 4-point charge on top of the table, with two match-wins in the third edition so far. Mario Villavarayan the former National team trainer filling his role as the fast bowling coach and trainer for Jaffna Kings and has been with the franchise side for all three editions while Jehan Mubarak and Sachith Pathirana work as batting and spin coaches of the Jaffna side. Also, former National head coach Mickey Arthur is closely involved with the Dambulla Aura team as head coach while Sri Lanka A team head coach Avishka Gunawardena is the Assistant coach of the side. Ruvin Pieris is the batting and fielding coach.

Former National spinner and present Emerging cricket team coach Ruwan Kalpage is Colombo Stars’ head coach, while former National paceman and National under 19 bowling coach Chamila Gamage works as the Assistant and fast bowling coach. Sampath Perera is the batting coach and former National player Upul Chandana supports Colombo Stars as the side’s fielding coach which is captained by Angelo Mathews.

The Galle Gladiators coach, former Pakistan wicket-keeper/batsman Moin Khan, is back for a third time while former Pakistan paceman Umar Gul is working as the fast bowling coach.

Meanwhile, all five teams reached Pallekele yesterday from Hambantota to commence the second leg of the LPL, in which Kandy Falcons will face Jaffna Kings today at 7.30 pm. Both teams maintain an unbeaten record and a keen tussle is to be expected. Thisara Perera the Jaffna skipper and Wanindu Hasaranga the Kandy skipper who has taken the first LPL hat-trick against Galle Gladiators plans to sear through.

Colombo and Galle will meet on Sunday while Jaffna and Dambulla will battle it out on the same day from 7.30 pm onwards