10:07 PM

That's it then for this first ever Lanka Premier League Player Auction. Worth reminding that the LPL is just the third franchise league in the world to have a Player Auction. 

It had it's moments of confusion, and occasional pauses for clairifcations, but the auctioneer Charu Sharma did an excellent job at ensuring that the auction didn't run too long and that the teams were happy with the squads they had assembled. 

10:03 PM

Matheesha Pathirana will surely be a big attraction when the Colombo Strikers take the field, with some good young talent to compliment the likes of Babar Azam

Babar Azam, Matheesha Pathirana, Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Wahab Riaz, Lakshan Sandakan, Nipun Dananjaya, Movin Subasinghe, Lahiru Udara, Eshan Malinga, Sashika Dulshan, Nuwanidu Fernando, Iftikhar Ahmad, Lorcan Tucker, Jeffrey Vandersay, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Kanishka Anjula, Ramesh Mendis, Mohammad Nawaz, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Yashoda Lanka,

10:00 PM

Having lost Avishka Fernando this year and Wanindu Hasaranga, the Jaffna Kings have retooled with a formidable pace attack.

David Miller, Thisara Perera, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Maheesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage, Shoaib Malik, Pathum Kumara, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Theesan Vithushan, Asanka Manoj, Nishan Madushka, Asitha Fernando, Hardus Viljoen, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka, Zaman Khan, Ashan Randika, Ratnarajah Thenurathan, Chris Lynn, Asela Gunarathne

09:51 PM

We'll have the full squads for the five teams in a bit, but it's been an interesting auction. 

Left arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka is probably the happiest player of the auction, commanding the highest bid of USD 92,000. Jaffna Kings were the team that made that winning bid, and they will hope he carries his good form from the Sri Lanka 'A' series against South Africa 'A' into next month's LPL season. 

Another fast bowler, Binura Fernando also went for big money, USD 76,000, while Charith Asalanka, for the majority of the auction, was the player with the highest bid of USD 80,000. 

09:34 PM

Manelkar de Silva and Praveen Jayawickrama to Dambulla 

Dambulla Aura still have a couple of slots on their roster, so they nominate Manelkar de Silva for auction. There are no other bids, so he's sold for his base price of USD 5,000 

They have one more spot on the roster, and they have USD 20,000 in the bank, so Dambulla Aura nominate Praveen Jayawickrama. He goes for his base price of USD 20,000 and the Dambulla Aura have completed their roster of 24 players. 

09:27 PM

Vishwa Fernando sold to Galle Titans for USD 10,000 

Galle Titans nominate left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando, and they get him for his base price of USD 10,000

09:24 PM

Dambulla Aura and Jaffna Kings are short of an overseas player each, so they are asked to nominate a player. Jaffna nominate Chris Lynn, at a base price of USD 50,000. There are no other takers, so Chris Lynn is sold to the Jaffna Kings for USD 50,000.

Dambulla Aura nominate Alex Ross, and he goes to Dambulla for his base price of USD 20,000. 

09:18 PM

Thanuka Dabare to BLove Kandy for USD 10,000

A late bid for Thanuka Dabare from BLove Kandy, and they get the batsman for USD 10,000. 

Ravindu Fernando, coming in at a base price of USD 5,000, finds a bidder in Dambulla Aura but they are the only one. He goes to the Dambulla Aura. 

Anuk Fernando snapped up by the Galle Titans for USD 5,000. 

09:13 PM

Avishka Fernando on the board again, having gone unsold earlier. Galle Titans and Dambulla Aura exchange bids and he goes to the Galle Titans for USD 6,000.

09:11 PM

Ashan Randika to Jaffna Kings for USD 5,000 , Sonal Dinusha to Galle Titans

Jaffna make the first bid for Ashan Randika, and there are no other takers. 

Just as quick Sonal Dinusha is picked up by the Galle Titans for his base price of USD 5,000. 

Fast bowler Shiran Fernando goes unsold again. 

09:08 PM

All-rounder Malsha Tharupathi is next, at USD 5,000, but that price rises to USD 13,000 which is the winning bid from BLove Kandy. 

Nandre Burger, of South Africa is on the board, but leaves it unsold. 

09:04 PM

Tim Seifert to Galle Titans for USD 30,000

Another New Zealander Tim Seifert on the board, and its a quick bid and a bang of the gavel. Galle Titans sign him for USD 30,000.

Pakistani Faheem Ashraf goes unsold but Aamer Jamal goes to BLove Kandy for USD 10,000. 

08:55 PM

Akila Dananjaya signed by Galle Titans for USD 11,000

Akila Dananjaya bid for by the Colombo Strikers for his base price of USD 10,000. Galle Titans, up the bid to USD 11,000, and with no counter, the gavel goes down. 

Zimbabwean Ryan Burl, is next at USD 10,000, and has no takers. He goes unsold. 

08:52 PM

Rassie van der Dussen comes up next, with a base price of USD 40,000, and after all that drama with Madushanka, there is not a peep. He goes unsold. 

08:45 PM

Sikandar Raza is the next name out of the bag, and he goes unsold again.  

08:41 PM

Starting with the Capped players, first up is Australian batsman Chris Lynn. His base price is USD 50,000. 

Despite being nominated, there are no bids for him. 

07:50 PM

As things stand:

BLove Kandy have 17 playes signed, and need at least three more players, one of which has to be an overseas player, to complete their roster. They have USD 45,000 left to do so. 

Jaffna Kings meanwhile, have USD 183,000 left in the bank, but also need to sign five players to meet the minimum requirement of 20 players on the roster. They are also two overseas players short of meeting the six-player quota for overseas players. 

Colombo Strikers have the least to do, having already signed 20 players. They have USD 164,500 left which they could spend on upto four players, to be within the maximum number of 24 players on the roster. They need to sign atleast one more overseas player. 

Dambulla Aura have USD 76,000 in the kitty, but with 16 players already signed, they would need to sign atleast four more players to meet the minimum required number of 20 players. They are currently one player short of the six overseas player quota. 

And finally, Galle Titans have 17 players on the roster, four of whom are overseas players. They will need to sign a minimum of three players, two of whom have to be overseas players, when the Accelerated Auction begins at 8 pm. They have a healthy USD 218,000 left to spend. 

Be back in a bit!

07:35 PM

Three South Africans come up, but Duanne Olivier and Junior Dala are passed on. 

Hardus Viljeon however, is picked up by the Jaffna Kings for his base price of USD 30,000. They add another fast bowler to their ranks, picking up Nuwan Thushara, the next player up, for his base price of USD 30,000. 

07:30 PM

Fourth set of Capped All-Rounders up next. 

West Indian Fabien Allen and Afghan Azmatullah Omarzai with base prices of USD 40,000 go unsold. 

The silence is broken with a bid by the Colombo Strikers who bid for Lahiru Madushanka, at USD 20,000. BLove Kandy counter and the price rises of USD 26,000. Colombo Strikers are not keen to outbid them and neither are the Galle Titans keen to use their Right to Match. 

Lahiru Madushanka goes to BLove Kandy for USD 26,000.

07:20 PM

First up, Ruwanapura Dilshan Kanchana, at a base price of USD 5,000 which interests none of the team.

Chamod Pushpa Battage, Lasanda Rukmal, Naleen Priyadarshana, Roshen Chanura Fernando, Ratnarajah Thenuratha and Nipun Kanchana Premarathna are all base priced at USD 5,000, and are all passed on. ]

It's the same fate for Tilanga Udeshan, Mohomed Dilshad, Yasiru Hansaja Rodrigo and Sithum Dissanayake as well. 

None of the players in that category -- Uncapped Fast Bowlers -- were sold. 

07:12 PM

The third set of Uncapped All-Rounders are up next. 

No takers for Suminda Lakshan at USD 20,000. Nimesh Vimukthi also goes unsold at his base price of USD 10,000. 

Lahiru Samarakoon is next, also at USD 10,000, and Colombo Strikers and Galle Titans trade bids. The two teams bump up the bids for USD 25,000 and then USD 30,000. The next bump up from the Galle Titans takes the price to USD 40,000. That's more than the other franchises are willing to spend. Lahiru Samarakoon goes to the Galle Titans for USD 40,000. 

07:04 PM

Sineth Jayawardena, at USD 5,000, is first and he's passed on. The next player, Hirun Kapurubandara, also at USD 5,000, joins the unsold list. 

Ron Chandragupta, also at USD 5,000, is passed on. 

Dambulla Aura make the only bid, of USD 5,000 for Lakshan Edirisinghe. Dambulla get the young batsman. 

07:00 PM

Chathuranga de Silva comes in with a base price of USD 10,000 and BLove Kandy are the only bidders. Chathuranga de Silva sold to BLove Kandy for USD 10,000. Colombo Strikers turn down their Right to Match that offer. 

Dilruwan Perera is next at USD 10,000 and he's passed on. 

06:55 PM

Fareed Ahmad Malik, of Afghanistan, has a base price of USD 10,000 which is not enticing for any of the franchises. He is passed on. 

Rumman Raees is next at the same base price, and he too is unsold. 

Ireland's Mark Adair, comes in at USD 20,000, and joins the previous two bowlers on the unsold list. 

06:51 PM

Pakistan's Shahnawaz Dahani comes in at a base price of USD 20,000. Dambulla Aura make a bid, but they are unchallenged. Dambulla Aura get Shahnawaz Dahani for USD 20,000. 

06:49 PM

We're back and it's all sorted now. 

As suggested Colombo Strikers and Galle Titans do still have their Right to Match options. 

We continue with the third set of Capped Fast Bowlers. 

06:30 PM

The next category is the third set of capped fastbowlers. 

Pramod Madushan is first at a base price of USD 20,000. Dambulla Aura and Jaffna Kings exchange bids and his price rises to USD 28,000. It jumps to USD 34,000, before Dambulla Aura use their Right to Match option to retain the player. 

Bit of a break as they sort out which teams have a Right to Match left, we'll be back in about 12 minutes. 

06:23 PM

Next up is Capped Wicket-Keepers, and Anamul Haque Buoy is first at, at USD 10,000. He's passed on, as is Pakistan's Umran Akmal

Jaffna Kings pick up Nishan Maduhska at his base price of USD 10,000.

06:18 PM

Pakistan's Mohammad Hafeez comes in on a base price of USD 50,000, and there are no bids. He joins the unsold list. 

Dushan Hemantha, at his base price of USD 20,000, is picked up by the Dambulla Aura. 

Mehedy Miraz Hasan, at a base price of USD 30,000, is passed on. 

06:15 PM

No takers for Oshada Fernando and Dimuth Karunaratne. 

Sherfane Rutherford, comes in at a base price of USD 40,000, but has no takers eithers. 

We move onto the third set of Capped All-Rounders. 

06:09 PM

We have Uncapped Fast Bowlers next and Nipun Ransika is first up. He's passed on. 

Mohammad Shiraz and Asanka Manoj buck the trend and get bought by Galle Titans and Jaffna Kings respectively at their base price of USD 5,000. 

Nisala Tharaka is passed on, and so is Garuka Sanketh, at their base price of USD 5,000. 

06:03 PM

The next set of players are Uncapped All-Rounders and Eathan Bosch is the first on the board. He has no takers, and its the same for Australian Jack Prestwidge, 

Sachithra Jayathilaka has a base price of USD 5,000, and Dambulla Aura make the only bid. 

Dilum Sudeera, Chamindu Wijesinghe and Pulina Tharanga all go unsold. 

Add South African Corbin Bosch to that list. 

05:58 PM

Sangeeth Cooray and Pawan Rathnayake, at a base price of USD 5,000, the next two players out of the bag, are passed on by the five franchises. 

Shevon Daniel however, gets some interest, with his USD 5,000 base price doubling quickly. Now double that too, because teams are bidding in the USD 20,000s for Daniel, before the Galle Titans make the highest bid at USD 22,000. Dambulla choose not to match, so he goes to Galle. 

05:50 PM

Afghanistan's left arm spinner Noor Ahmad, comes in at a base price of USD 50,000, and Dambulla Aura bite the bullet with an opening bid. There are no counter offers it seems, so Dambulla get Noor Ahmad for USD 50,000. 

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's Nasum Ahmed, with a base price of USD 20,000, gets no bids. 

The final player in this set, Qais Ahmad, and a base price of USD 30,000 don't turn any heads and he goes unsold. 

05:46 PM

That bidding war was probably too exhausting for all the teams, because there is no interest in Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed and his base price of USD 40,000. 

Nepal's Sandeep Lamicchane, at a base price of USD 30,000 goes unsold. 

05:40 PM

Irishman Lorcan Tucker comes in at a base price of USD 10,000 and the Colombo Strikers make a bid. There are no other bids. Colombo get Lorcan Tucker for USD 10,000. 

We quickly move on to the next set of players, Capped Fast bowlers. 

The first two names on that set Doug Bracewell and Vishwa Fernando go unsold. As does Afghanistan's Zahoor Khan who is next. Australian Billy Stanlake has no interested bidders either, and that's the fourth consecutive name in this set to be passed on. 

05:34 PM

A bit of a shock with no bids for Sadeera Samarawickrama at his base price of USD 20,000. Quickly changes when Dambulla Aura and Colombo Strikers trade bids, and his value jumps to above USD 50,000. It seems everyone now wants a piece of Samarawickrama has the bidding goes over USD 60,000, three times his value. Dambulla Aura have the highest bid with USD 68,000, and that's the price to pay for the Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman. 

Minod Bhanuka, next up, goes to Galle Titans at his his base price of USD 20,000. 

05:26 PM

Former Afghanistan captain Mohammed Nabi has no takers at a base price of USD 50,000. 

Shehan Jayasuriya also passes unsold, with a base price of USD 20,0000. 

Faheem Ashraf, the last player in this set, also goes without a bidder. 

We move onto Capped Wicket keepers. 

05:23 PM

Afghanistan's Karim Janat goes unsold at USD 30,000, but a bidding war begins for Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahemd, that takes his value from USD 40,000 to USD 52,000, the price at which Colombo Strikers get him. 

05:20 PM

Ashen Bandara, at a base rate of USD 30,000, ends the lull in bids. His value increases to USD 40,000 with BLove Kandy making the winning bid. 

We're done with that set, so we move onto Capped All-Rounders. 

05:14 PM

We've come full circle and are back to internationally capped batsmen. 

Pakistan's Imam ul-Haq has no interest at his base price of USD 20,000. Nuwanidu Fernando is next, at the same base price, and Colombo Strikers are the first to bid. No counter bids so, Colombo Strikers get Nuwanidu Fernando for USD 20,000. 

05:11 PM

We're back to adding names to the unsold list -- Senash Fernando, at a base price of USD 5,000, has no takers. 

Vishva Lahiru, also at USD 5,000, joins that list as well. 

05:05 PM

Duvindi Tillakaratne, at a base price of USD 5,000, is next and has no takers. It's the same for Ashain Daniel, who joins the long list of unsold playaers. 

Kevin Koththigoda and Kavindu Nadeeshan add their names to that list. 

05:02 PM

Australian Mark Steketee is the next player up on the board, and at USD 20,000, gets no interested looks. 

Sri Lankan Milan Rathnayake, who comes in at half that price, also goes unsold. 

That's the last of that set, and we move onto the first set of Uncapped Spinners. 

04:59 PM

Himesh Ramanayake, at a base price of USD 5,000, goes unsold. 

Udith Madushan, coming in at the same base price, also passes with no bids. 

04:57 PM

Kasun Abeyratne goes unsold at his base price of USD 5,000 and we quickly move into the next set - uncapped Fast Bowlers. 

The first of those names, Shiran Fernando, goes unsold. 

04:49 PM

First up in this category is Pathum Kumara at a base price of USD 5,000. 

Jaffna Kings make the first bid and they get him at that price. 

Pathum Kumara to Jaffna Kings at USD 5,000.

Sithara Gimhan, also priced at USD 5,000, is next but he has no takers. He goes unsold. 

Dunuru Abeywickramasinghe also goes unsold at his base price of USD 5,000. 

04:26 PM

Australian Hayden Kerr comes in at USD 10,000 and he gets some interest. Dambulla Aura and Colombo Strikers drive his asking price to USD 20,000 which is the price he goes to to Dambulla Aura. 

The last name on the list is Australian Chris Green, at a base price of USD 20,000, and he goes unsold. 

04:22 PM

Tharindu Ratnayake comes in a base price of USD 20,000 and goes unsold. 

04:18 PM

Sri Lanka A captain Nipun Dhananjaya comes in at USD 5,000 and the Colombo Strikers get him for his base price, with no counter bids made. 

Australia's Caleb Jewel passes through without a bid at his base price of USD 20,000. South African Matthew Paul Breetzke also has no takers at USD 10,000. Kenar Lewis, the final player in that category, also goes unsold at his base price of USD 20,000. 

The first set of Uncapped All-Rounders are up next. 

04:15 PM

The first Sri Lankan in this category is Sahan Arachchige with a base price of USD 10,000. 

BLove Kandy and Galle Titans trade some early bids, and not long after Colombo Strikers join in, doubling his base price. Colombo Strikers and BLove Kandy exchange counter offers, and his price reaches USD 28,000. 

That's his going price, so BLove Kandy get Sahan Arachchige for USD 28,000. 

04:11 PM

The final player in this set is Akila Dhananjaya and even at a base price of USD 10,000, he has no takers. He joins the group of unsold players. 

04:08 PM

South African spinner Imran Tahir passes through with no bids at his base price of USD 50,000. 

04:04 PM

Australian Jason Behrendorff goes unsold, with no bids at his base price of USD 50,000. 

Sri Lanka's Lahiru Kumara is up next. After a long wait, before he is deemed 'unsold', there's a bid from Galle Titans for Kumara at his base price of USD 40,000. No counter bids, so he goes to Galle for his base price. 

That's it for the first set of fast bowlers. Next up, the first set of spinners. 

03:57 PM

Australia's Andrew Tye is the second fast bowler to be bid for and he goes unsold, at his base price of USD 50,000. 

Pakistan's Mohammad Hasnain comes in at USD 30,000, and he gets a few early bids and BLove Kandy get him for USD 34,000. 

Fazalhaq Farooqi, the Afghan fast bowler, up next, goes unsold. 

03:51 PM

Kusal Janith Perera is the last in this set and he comes in, after some confusion, at a base price of USD 40,000, 

Dambulla Aura make the first bid, and that's the only bid.

Dambulla Aura get Kusal Janith Perera for USD 40,000. 

03:47 PM

Niroshan Dickwella up next!

Dickwella's base price is USD 30,000 and BLove Kandy and Colombo Strikers trade early bids. It drives his asking price above USD 40,000 and Colombo get the high bid of USD 44,000. The hammer goes down and Colombo Strikers get Niroshan Dickwella. 

03:39 PM

Bangladesh's Liton Das is next, and he comes in with a price of USD 30,000.

There are no bids for him either. 

03:36 PM

Pakistan's Shoaib Mailk, who has featured in the all three previous seasons of the Lanka Premier League, is next and Malik goes to the Jaffna Kings for his base price of USD 50,000.  

He returns to the team he played for last season. 

03:30 PM

Former national all-rounder Isuru Udana is next at a base price of USD 40,000. 

BLove Kandy make the solitary bid and they get Udana at his base price. 

03:27 PM

West Indian Carlos Braithwaite is the first overseas all-rounder up for bidding, with a base price of USD 50,000. 

No takers from him too, and another overseas player goes undrafted. 

03:22 PM

Afghanistan's Najibullah Zadran, who has a base price of USD 20,000 has no takers when he comes up for auction, and a fourth overseas cricketer goes unsold. 

03:15 PM

Charith Asalanka is up next. 

He has a base price of USD 40,000 and that quickly goes to USD 50,000 with a bidding battle between Colombo and Jaffna. 

Dambulla Aura jumps in with a bid of USD 58,000, with the Jaffna Kings responding with another bid to take his price to USD 60,000. They trade bids and his price goes up to USD 66,000. 

Like Dhananjaya de Silva, his price races through the USD 70,000 mark and the current bid is USD 76,000. Dambulla respond, and so do Jaffna and his price goes to USD 80,000. 

And that's the highest bid! Jaffna Kings sign him for USD 80,0000. Colombo Strikers turn down the option to match that bid. 

03:08 PM

Dhananjaya de Silva is the first Sri Lankan player to be bid on

A quick trade of bids between BLove Kandy and Colombo Kings, takes de Silva from his base price of USD 40000 up to USD 50000. Seems Sri Lanka's Test Vice Captain is in bid demand, as that figure rockets passed USD 70000. 

He almost goes for USD 72,000 to Dambulla Aura, before BLove Kandy bid USD 74,000. Dambulla Aura counter and he goes to Dambulla Aura for USD 76,000. 

03:05 PM

And the first player to be bid on is Chris Lynn. 

The Australian batsman has a base price of USD 50,000. And he passes with no bids. 

02:45 PM

Franchises will add to their pre-auction direct signings when the auction begins in a shortwhile. Here's a quick reminder who each franchise has signed so far: 

Jaffna Kings – David Miller, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Thisara Perera, Maheesh Theekshana
Colombo Strikers – Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Matheesha Pathirana, Chamika Karunaratne
Dambulla Aura – Matthew Wade, Lungi Ngidi, Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando
Galle Titans – Shakib Al Hasan, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dasun Shanaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa
BLove Kandy – Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fakhar Zaman, Wanindu Hasaranga, Angelo Mathews

Each team was given US 500,000 dollars to make these direct signings, and will have another US 500,000 dollars availble to sign players at the auction. 

02:27 PM

If you want to know about the draft, and how it will work, be sure to read our Player Auction primer here.

02:23 PM

For the initiated, this year the LPL will allow it's five teams to pick players via an auction, as opposed to the player draft which was the norm over the last three years.