Shahid Afridi Named Icon Player Of Pakistan-Owned Franchise Galle Gladiators In Lanka Premier League

Former Pakistan captain  Shahid Afridi has been named as the icon player for Galle Gladiators for Lankan Premier League 2020. Afridi has last played a T20 franchise league contest for Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020. He had delivered a decent performance with the bat and ball.

The Galle Gladiators is owned by Nadeem Omar who also owns the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators. The announcement of Afridi’s inclusion in the franchise was made at a launch ceremony in Karachi on Wednesday.

“We have got Shahid Afridi as our icon player,” Nadeem Omar said. He also added that it is a great honour to have Afridi in his side.

“I have not asked him to be coach or anything. He can be anything he wants.”

Shahid Afridi meanwhile thanked the honour for the opportunity and congratulated him on becoming the first franchise owner from Pakistan in the LPL.

“Proud to be the icon player for Galle Gladiators. I want to thank Nadeem Omar bhai and also congratulate him for being the first franchise owner from Pakistan in the #LPL. I’ll be seeing you all in,” he tweeted. 

Proud to be the icon player for Galle Gladiators. I want to thank Nadeem Omar bhai and also congratulate him for being the first franchise owner from Pakistan in the #LPL. I’ll be seeing you all in ??#GalleGladiators #SriLankaCricket #IPGGroup #RoaringToGo #LankaPremierLeague

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) September 3, 2020

Moin Khan will also be working in the Galle franchise in an unspecified role. He works as the head coach and director for Quetta Gladiators.

The LPL will be played across Dambulla, Pallekele and Hambantota. The tournament will commence from November 14 to December 6 and will see quite a few international players in the contest.

It will be a 23-match tournament. The franchises have been named from five cities in Sri Lanka – Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Dambulla and Jaffna.