Suresh Raina, the former Indian cricketer and Chennai Super Kings player, has expressed his interest in participating in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) player auction for 2023. Raina has set his initial bid at USD 50,000 for the auction scheduled to take place on June 14. The LPL 2023 tournament is slated to be held from July 30 to August 20.
Having announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in September 2022, the 36-year-old Raina made a brief comeback in the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament in December 2022. Representing the Deccan Gladiators, he contributed with 36 runs as they emerged as the eventual champions. Additionally, Raina showcased his expertise in the commentary box during the Indian Premier League 2023 season and participated in the Legends League Cricket in March this year.
This edition of the Lanka Premier League will witness an IPL-style auction for the first time. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has reported that more than 500 players, including 140 international cricketers, have already registered for the auction. Each of the five teams participating in LPL 2023 will have a budget of USD 500,000 to acquire players during the auction. Alongside Raina, prominent international cricketers such as Babar Azam from Pakistan and David Miller from South Africa have confirmed their participation in the upcoming tournament.
