Lanka Premier League 2026: Towhid Hridoy replaces Taskin Ahmed in Jaffna Kings squad
Dambulla, July 26
Lanka Premier League Players' Management Committee has approved the inclusion of Bangladesh's Towhid Hridoy in the Jaffna Kings squad for the ongoing season.
Hridoy replaces fellow Bangladeshi international Taskin Ahmed, who has been ruled out of the tournament after being unable to join the squad due to unavailability, according to a press release from the franchise.
Anil Mohan Sankhdhar, founder and CEO of IPG Group, the official rights holder of the Lanka Premier League, said, "We are delighted to welcome Towhid Hridoy to the Lanka Premier League. He has emerged as one of Bangladesh's most accomplished cricketers and brings both quality and leadership to the Jaffna Kings. While we wish Taskin Ahmed the very best, we are confident Hridoy's arrival will further enhance the competition and give fans another exciting player to follow this season."
The right-handed batter brings impressive T20 credentials to Jaffna Kings, having scored 4,057 runs in 168 T20 matches at an average of 30.73, including two T20 centuries.
One of Bangladesh's most dependable white-ball batters, Hridoy arrives in outstanding form after a string of impactful performances in international cricket.
He has produced several match-defining knocks in 2026, including an unbeaten 51 off 27 balls against New Zealand and a composed 61 against Australia. He has also led Bangladesh with confidence since being appointed T20I captain.
Jaffna Kings continue their campaign after registering one win and one loss from their opening two matches in Colombo. They will next take on Colombo KAPS in Dambulla, with Towhid Hridoy set to bolster the squad as they look to build momentum.
Jaffna Kings Squad: Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (c), Ibrahim Zadran, Kamil Mishara (wk), Nuwanidu Fernando, David Wiese, Dunith Wellalage, Piyush Chawla, Dilshan Madushanka, Lizaad Williams, Traveen Mathew, Shakib Al Hasan, Mohamed Shiraz, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kugathas Mathulan, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Nishan Madushka, Dipendra Singh Airee, Praveen Maneesha
— ANI
Reader Comments
Lanka Premier League is becoming quite international! First Shakib, now Hridoy from Bangladesh, plus Afghans and South Africans. Love to see different players getting exposure in these leagues. Hope Hridoy can bring some of his form from the recent series against Australia. #LPL2026
Cricket leagues are really helping players from associate or smaller nations get noticed. Hridoy's stats are solid—over 4000 T20 runs at 30+ average. That's quality. But Taskin's absence weakens their pace attack. Hopefully, Lizaad Williams and Dilshan Madushanka can step up. Good luck, Jaffna Kings!
I'm happy for Hridoy but disappointed we don't see more Indian players in LPL. Our domestic players would benefit from such exposure. That said, the franchise model is working well for Sri Lanka cricket—good mix of local talent and international stars like David Wiese and Piyush Chawla. Hope the tournament grows further.
Towhid Hridoy is a smart signing. He's shown he can anchor innings or accelerate as needed. That 51 off 27 against NZ in 2026 was brilliant. Jaffna Kings have a strong squad on paper—Avishka, Rajapaksa, Shakib, Hridoy... but they need to convert potential into consistent performances. First match back in Dambulla will be crucial.
All these leagues are good for cricket, but I worry about player burnout. Taskin likely had to manage his workload
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