Dambulla Sixers

Dambulla based franchise cricket team of the Lanka Premier League

Cricket team

Dambulla Sixers

League| Lanka Premier League
Personnel
Captain| Mohammad Nabi
Coach| Rangana Herath
Owner| Sequoia Consultants, Inc.
Team information
City| Dambulla, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Colours|  Yellow
Founded| 2020: Dambulla Viiking
2021: Dambulla Giants
2022: Dambulla Aura
2024: Dambulla Sixers
Home ground| Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla
Capacity| 16,800
History
LPL wins| 0

T20I kit

Dambulla Sixers, previously known as Dambulla Aura, Dambulla Giants, Dambulla Viking, and Dambulla Thunders are a franchise Twenty20 cricket team based in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, that competes in the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

In June 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) terminated the franchise ahead of the 2021 Lanka Premier League, due to financial issues.[1][2] In September 2021, the team changed their name to Dambulla Giants after changing owners.[3] Then, prior to the 2022 season, Aura Lanka brought the franchise and changed its name to Dambulla Aura.[4]

## Franchise History

[edit]

### 2020 season

[edit]

Main article: Dambulla Viiking in 2020

### 2021 season

[edit]

Main article: Dambulla Giants in 2021

### 2022 season

[edit]

Main article: Dambulla Aura in 2022

### 2023 season

[edit]

Main article: Dambulla Aura in 2023

### 2024 season

[edit]

Main article: Dambulla Sixers in 2024

In 2024, the team was purchased by Imperial Sports Group, who renamed it Dambulla Thunders.[5] Tamim Rahman, a co-owner of Dambulla Thunders, a British national of Bangladeshi origin, was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport a day after the 2024 LPL player auction. The special investigating unit for preventing sports-related offences of the Ministry of Sports made the arrest.[6] Following the arrest, LPL terminated its contract with Dambulla Thunders with immediate effect.[7] The IPG Group, the organisers of LPL announced, the fifth edition of the league will continue as planned despite the events related to Dambulla Thunders. IPG further stated that the Dambulla franchise will participate in the league under new ownership.[8] Incidentally, Viranjith Thambugala, chairman of Aura Lanka, the previous owner of Dambulla franchise, was arrested by Sri Lanka Police over allegations of financial fraud on the same day.[9] At last, Dambulla franchise was bought by a Los Angeles based engineering consultant firm called Sequoia Consultants.[10]

To promote breast cancer awareness and encourage self-examination, Dambulla Sixers played their match against Galle Marvels on July 14 wearing pink jerseys with a pink ribbon. Inspired by successful campaigns in other cricket-playing nations, the initiative aims to significantly impact cancer awareness in Sri Lanka.[11] The Galle Marvels wore a special jersey that mixed pink with their usual neon green in support of their program.[12]

## Current squad

[edit]

* Sources: ESPNcricinfo,[13] ThePapare.com,[14] Newswire.com[15]
* Players with international caps are listed in bold.

No.  | Name  | Nationality  | Date of birth  | Batting style  | Bowling style  | Year signed  | Salary
(US$)  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Batters
80  | Mark Chapman |  New Zealand |  (1994-06-27) 27 June 1994 (age 30) | Left handed  | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2024  | Direct signing  | Overseas
| Nuwanidu Fernando |  Sri Lanka |  (1999-10-13) 13 October 1999 (age 25) | Right handed  | Right-arm off break | 2024  | 34,000  |
17  | Reeza Hendricks |  South Africa |  (1989-08-14) 14 August 1989 (age 35) | Right handed  | Right-arm off break | 2024  | Direct signing  | Overseas
77  | Towhid Hridoy |  Bangladesh |  (2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 24) | Right handed  | Right-arm off break | 2024  | Direct signing  | Overseas
18  | Ibrahim Zadran |  Afghanistan |  (2001-12-12) 12 December 2001 (age 23) | Right handed  | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024  | Direct signing  | Overseas
Wicket-keepers
55  | Kusal Janith Perera |  Sri Lanka |  (1990-08-17) 17 August 1990 (age 34) | Left handed  | —  | 2024  | Direct signing  |
| Ranesh Silva  |  Sri Lanka |  (2002-01-24) 24 January 2002 (age 23) | Right handed  | —  | 2024  | 5,000  |
| Lahiru Udara |  Sri Lanka |  (1993-11-27) 27 November 1993 (age 31) | Right handed  | —  | 2024  | 14,000  |
All-rounders
4  | Akila Dananjaya |  Sri Lanka |  (1993-10-04) 4 October 1993 (age 31) | Left handed  | Right-arm off break, Right-arm leg break | 2024  | 20,000  |
| Sonal Dinusha |  Sri Lanka |  (2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 24) | Left handed  | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2024  | 6,000  |
70  | Danushka Gunathilaka |  Sri Lanka |  (1991-03-17) 17 March 1991 (age 34) | Left handed  | Right-arm off break | 2024  | 22,000  |
34  | Dushan Hemantha |  Sri Lanka |  (1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 (age 30) | Right handed  | Right-arm leg break | 2023  | Retained  |
| Sachitha Jayathilake |  Sri Lanka |  (1997-02-24) 24 February 1997 (age 28) | Right handed  | Right-arm leg break | 2024  | Direct signing  |
| Lahiru Madushanka |  Sri Lanka |  (1992-09-12) 12 September 1992 (age 32) | Right handed  | Right-arm fast-medium | 2024  | 20,000  |
7  | Mohammad Nabi |  Afghanistan |  (1985-01-01) 1 January 1985 (age 40) | Right handed  | Right-arm off break | 2024  | Direct signing  | Overseas; Captain
| Nimesh Vimukthi |  Sri Lanka |  (1997-05-07) 7 May 1997 (age 28) | Left handed  | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2024  | Direct signing  |
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe |  Sri Lanka |  (2002-09-06) 6 September 2002 (age 22) | Left handed  | Right-arm medium | 2024  | Direct signing  |
Spin bowlers
92  | Praveen Jayawickrama |  Sri Lanka |  (1998-09-30) 30 September 1998 (age 26) | Right handed  | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2023  | Retained  |
Pace bowlers
98  | Dilshan Madushanka |  Sri Lanka |  (2000-09-18) 18 September 2000 (age 24) | Right handed  | Left-arm fast-medium | 2024  | Direct signing  |
| Asanka Manoj  |  Sri Lanka |  (1997-03-23) 23 March 1997 (age 28) | Right handed  | Right-arm fast-medium | 2024  | Direct signing  |
63  | Nuwan Pradeep |  Sri Lanka |  (1986-10-19) 19 October 1986 (age 38) | Right handed  | Right-arm fast-medium | 2024  | 36,000  |
90  | Mustafizur Rahman |  Bangladesh |  (1995-09-06) 6 September 1995 (age 29) | Left handed  | Left-arm fast-medium | 2024  | Direct signing  | Overseas
53  | Nuwan Thushara |  Sri Lanka |  (1994-08-06) 6 August 1994 (age 30) | Right handed  | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024  | Direct signing  |

## Administration and support staff

[edit]

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|

Position  | Name

|

Head coach  | Rangana Herath
Mentor  | Roshan Mahanama
Bowling coach  | Chamila Gamage
Fielding coach  | Ruwin Peiris
Batting coach  | Thilina Kandamby

## Captains

[edit]

No.  | Player  | From  | To  | Mat | Won  | Lost  | Tied  | NR | Win%

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Dasun Shanaka | 2020  | 2022  | 24  | 9  | 13  | 0  | 2  | 37.50
2  | Niroshan Dickwella | 2021  | 2021  | 2  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 50.00
3  | Sikandar Raza | 2022  | 2022  | 1  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 100.00
4  | Kusal Mendis | 2023  | 2023  | 8  | 5  | 2  | 1  | 0  | 68.75
5  | Dhananjaya de Silva | 2023  | 2023  | 2  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 100.00
6  | Mohammad Nabi | 2024  | present  | 8  | 3  | 4  | 1  | 0  | 37.50

As of 16 July 2024

## Seasons

[edit]

Year  | League standing  | Final standing

|
|

2020 | 2nd out of 5  | Semi-finalists
2021 | 4th out of 5  | Playoffs
2022 | 5th out of 5  | Group stage
2023 | 1st out of 5  | Runners up
2024 | 5th out of 5  | Group stage

## Statistics

[edit]

### Most runs

[edit]

As of 19 August 2023
Runs  | Player  | Seasons

|
|

544  | Dasun Shanaka | 2020–2022
421  | Niroshan Dickwella | 2020–2021
301  | Phil Salt | 2021
239  | Avishka Fernando | 2023
227  | Angelo Perera | 2020

* Source: ESPNcricinfo[16]

### Highest individual score

[edit]

As of 8 July 2024
Runs  | Player  | Opposition  | Venue  | Date

|
|
|
|

102* | Kusal Perera | Jaffna Kings | Pallekele | 3 July 2024
91* | Mark Chapman | Kandy Falcons | 1 July 2024
87  | Kusal Mendis | Colombo Strikers | 5 August 2023
80  | Shevon Daniel | Galle Gladiators | Colombo | 17 December 2022
Reeza Hendricks | Jaffna Kings | Dambulla | 6 July 2024
Kusal Perera | Colombo Strikers | 7 July 2024

* Source: ESPNcricinfo[17]

### Most wickets

[edit]

As of 19 August 2023
Wickets  | Player  | Seasons

|
|

15  | Imran Tahir | 2021
13  | Ramesh Mendis | 2020–2022
12  | Noor Ahmad | 2022–2023
10  | Dhananjaya de Silva | 2023
10  | Nuwan Pradeep | 2021

* Source: ESPNcricinfo[18]

## Team identity

[edit]

### Anthem

[edit]

Year  | Anthem  | Artist(s)

|
|

2021  |  | Tony T, Rohitha Rajapaksa, Neo Navy, Dinesh Kanagaratnam, Tehani Imara
2022  | Uthura Dakuna Tharaga Dinana  |
2024  | Awula Awula Abhimane  |

### Kit manufacturers and sponsors

[edit]

Year  | Kit manufacturer  | Shirt sponsor (front)  | Shirt sponsor (back)  | Chest branding

|
|
|
|

2020  |  | Planet Hollywood  |  | Life Bottled Water
2021  | Hamro  |
2022  | Tiger Exchange News[19] | Aura Lanka
2023  | Babu88 Sports[20] | Kheloyar  | Aura Airlines Sri Lanka
2024  | Mostplay.news  | Sequoia Consultants  | Harriet

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "SLC approves termination of Colombo Kings and Dambulla Viiking". CricBuzz. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
2. ^ "Colombo Kings, Dambulla Viiking terminate contracts, withdraw from LPL 2021". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
3. ^ "IPG announces new owner for Dambulla Giants". DailyFT. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
4. ^ "Aura Lanka Group secures ownership of Dambulla Team in LPL". Daily News. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
5. ^ "Dambulla franchise rebranded as Dambulla Thunders for LPL 2024". ThePapare. 21 April 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
6. ^ Sanjeewa, Kanishka (22 May 2024). "Team Owner of Dambulla Thunders arrested for match-fixing charges". ThePapare. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
7. ^ "LPL terminates contract with Dambulla Thunders following owner's arrest". ESPNcricinfo. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
8. ^ "2024 LPL to go ahead as scheduled; Dambulla franchise to receive new ownership". Ada Derana. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
9. ^ "Aura Lanka chairman Viranjith Thambugala arrested". Newswire. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
10. ^ "LA-based civil engineering firm becomes new owner of Dambulla franchise". The Times of India. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
11. ^ "Dambulla Sixers Go Pink on July 14, 2024: A Cricket Match for Cancer Awareness and Hope". Sri Lanka Cricket. 9 June 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
12. ^ "Galle Marvels joins Dambulla Sixers to raise awareness for Cancer". ThePapare. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
13. ^ "Pathirana, Udana, Janat the most expensive picks in LPL 2024 auction". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
14. ^ "LPL 2024 Auction: Full Squads of all 5 Teams". ThePapare.com. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
15. ^ "LPL 2024 begins on July 1st : Final squads announced". Newswire.com. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
16. ^ "Most career runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
17. ^ "Highest individual score". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
18. ^ ESPNcricinfo, Last Updated: 20 December 2021
19. ^ "Tiger Exchange News are official sponsors of Dambulla Aura in the ongoing Lanka Premier League T20". Asian News International. 12 December 2022.
20. ^ "Babu88Sports backs Dambulla Aura as title sponsors in LPL". Newswire. 29 July 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Dambulla Sixers

Home ground|

* Dambulla, Central Province, Sri Lanka

Captains|

* Dasun Shanaka (2020–)

Coaches|

* Owais Shah (2020–)

Seasons|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022

* v
* t
* e

Dambulla Sixers - current squad

* Nabi (c)
* Chapman
* Dananjaya
* Dinusha
* Fernando
* Gunathilaka
* Hemantha
* Hendricks
* Hridoy
* Jayathilake
* Jayawickrama
* Madushanka, D.
* Madushanka, L.
* Perera
* Pradeep
* Rahman
* Thushara
* Udara
* Vimukthi
* Wickramasinghe
* Zadran

* Head Coach: Rangana Herath

* v
* t
* e

Lanka Premier League

Seasons|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Finals|

* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Teams|

* Colombo Strikers
* Dambulla Sixers
* Galle Marvels
* Jaffna Kings
* Kandy Falcons

Venues|

* MRICS Hambantota
* RDIS Dambulla
* PICS Kandy
* RPS Colombo

Lists|

* Centuries
* Five-wicket hauls

* Category
* Commons
* WikiProject

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