Significant changes have occurred in the Lanka Premier League (LPL): following the arrest of a co-owner accused of corruption, the franchise is now led by former Indian fast bowler Zahir Khan.
Manjot Kalra, the co-owner who was previously a member of the Indian U-19 squad that won the 2018 World Cup, was arrested on charges of corruption. Kalra, who had previously been involved in investing in the Jaffna Kings franchise, faced turmoil in the cricket world during LPL 2026 due to his detention.
Recently, the rights to the four-time champion Jaffna Franchise were transferred to Global Sports Ownership Group Anchor Sports AB, based in Stockholm (Sweden). Following this, the team was renamed 'Anchor Jaffna Kings'. Zahir Khan will become a co-owner of this franchise alongside Nagendra Siddoutham, the owner of Anchor Sports.
Previously, Anchor Sports also owned the Antwerp Anchors in the European T20 Premier League Belgium and the Vancouver Anchors (men's and women's teams) in the Super 60 League Canada.
Currently, the Jaffna team holds one of the top two spots in the LPL standings, and the LPL final (2026) is scheduled for Sunday, August 8th.
The main reason for the change in ownership stems from a major dispute during the LPL tournament. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Innovative Production Group (IPG) terminated the Jaffna Kings franchise agreement because the franchise failed to meet its financial obligations. Subsequently, all rights to the team reverted to IPG and SLC, who took control of the team. No changes were made to the player roster, tournament format, or match schedule.
Anil Mohan, a representative of IPG, stated that although the decision was difficult, protecting the interests of the league, players, coaches, partners, and fans is the highest priority.
Manjot Kalra, the former co-owner of the Jaffna franchise and a member of the Indian team that won the U-19 World Cup, was arrested by Sri Lankan police in July. He was charged with offering Sri Lankan players Banuka Rajapaksa, Dunith Wellalage, and Avishka Fernando over $30,000 USD to influence LPL matches. Investigative authorities informed the court that they possess evidence related to phone calls and video recordings. However, Kalra's lawyers rejected all these accusations. After the arrest, the Colombo court placed him under judicial control pending the completion of the investigation. Sri Lanka Cricket also pledged full cooperation with the SIU in this matter.
Taking on the new role, Zahir Khan noted that Sri Lanka has always been a country that produces excellent and diverse bowlers. He emphasized his long-standing interest in Sri Lanka and many memories of playing there. For him, it is very exciting to become part of Sri Lankan cricket as an owner, and he expressed enthusiasm for this new responsibility.
LPL tournament director Samantha Donnwell stated that the addition of such a legendary figure as Zahir Khan will be extremely beneficial for young Sri Lankan players. His experience will play an important role in developing players both on and off the field.
Welcoming the new ownership, Anil Mohan, Chairman and CEO of IPG, noted that Jaffna was one of the most successful franchises in the six-year history of the LPL, winning four titles and establishing a special reputation in the league. He expressed confidence that Anchor Sports will continue this tradition and take the franchise to a new level.
