Manjot Kalra, Star of 2018 U19 World Cup, Becomes Owner of Lanka Premier League Team Manjot Kalra, the star batsman who led India to victory in the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, has transitioned from the cricket field to the business world. The Delhi-born player, known for his unbeaten century in the final against Australia, has become a co-owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) alongside businessman Mayank Goyal. Their company, Sports Commune, has acquired a stake in the team, marking Kalra’s entry into sports entrepreneurship. Kalra’s cricket career, however, was not without challenges. After making his professional debut for Delhi in 2019, his journey faced a significant setback when he became embroiled in an age fraud controversy. Allegations surfaced that his birthdate was misrepresented, leading to questions about his eligibility to compete in the Under-19 World Cup. The Delhi Police investigated the matter, and a court-registered charge sheet claimed Kalra was one year older than officially recorded. This controversy cast a shadow over his domestic career, limiting his professional appearances to just three matches before he retired in 2021. Despite the hurdles, Kalra has since pivoted to sports business and content creation. He now hosts a YouTube podcast titled Second Innings with Manjot Kalra, featuring interviews with cricketers and athletes. His new role in the LPL represents a fresh chapter, with Sports Commune aiming to revitalize the Jaffna Kings franchise. The partnership plans to focus on youth engagement, producing sports content, and strengthening grassroots cricket in South Asia.#lanka_preminier_league #manjot_kalra #jaffna_kings #sports_communne #samantha_dodanwela
Sri Lanka Cricket Drops Social Media Rule for Lanka Premier League After Backlash Sri Lanka Cricket has removed the controversial social media follower requirement for Icon and Star category players in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) following widespread criticism from the cricket community. The decision, announced in the revised player registration and draft guide for LPL Season 6, eliminates the previous mandate that players in these categories must have at least 250,000 followers on social media platforms. The change, effective from May 9, 2026, marks a significant shift in the tournament’s eligibility criteria, which had previously prioritized online presence over on-field performance. The rule was initially introduced to align with the LPL’s growing reliance on digital promotion, with players expected to engage fans through social media campaigns, promotional appearances, and content creation. However, the requirement sparked backlash from players, coaches, and fans, who argued that it created an unfair advantage for those with existing online followings. Critics highlighted the contradiction between Sri Lanka Cricket’s earlier advice to national players to minimize social media use and focus on their cricketing careers, and the LPL’s emphasis on online visibility. The revised regulations, published on May 9, 2026, retain core eligibility criteria such as T20 international appearances, franchise experience, and recent match activity. However, they no longer include the 250,000-follower threshold, which had been a point of contention. The updated document also removes all references to minimum social media follower counts across player categories, signaling a broader effort to depoliticize the selection process.#sri_lanka_cric #sri_lanka_cricket #lanka_preminier_league #lpl_season_6 #franchise_experience
