India's Munaf Patel will be going under the hammer for the inaugural Lanka Premier League that is scheduled to take place between November 14 and December 6

A file photo of India’s Munaf Patel. (Reuters Photo)

Former India fast bowler Munaf Patel, who has played in the Indian Premier League for franchise like Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions, is now set to take part in the inaugural Lanka Premier League.

The 2011 World Cup winner for India is among the 150-odd overseas players to go under the hammer for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) auction to be held on October 1.

Some of the other prominent players to be part of the auction include West Indies cricketers Chris Gayle and Daren Sammy, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, England’s Ravi Bopara and New Zealander Colin Munro.

The inaugural edition of LPL is scheduled to run from November 14 to December 6, according to a statement by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The tournament was earlier scheduled to be played in August this year, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

There will be five teams in the inaugural edition of LPL, and each team can buy up to six international players. A total of 30 international cricketers and 65 local cricketers are expected to make up the five teams which will have 19 players each.

The matches will be played in Dambulla, Pallekele and Hambantota international stadiums. The LPL launch will be held in Hambantota.

Mandatory quarantine on arrival in Sri Lanka

According to a PTI report, the Sri Lankan government is yet to give approval for a shorter quarantine period for players, officials and broadcast staff.

The SLC officials have asked for a shorter quarantine period of seven days for those arriving in the country for this tournament, from the present 14-day period.

India’s Munaf Patel, who was part of the 2011 World Cup winning squad, retired from all forms of cricket in 2018 after playing in 13 Tests, 70 ODIs and three T20Is. He had earlier also played in the T10 League in the UAE.