Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana has acquired the Dinkers pickleball franchise for competition in the Ceylon Pickle League, marking his entry into sports team ownership alongside business partner Amila Kalugalage.
Matheesha Pathirana, known for his cricket career, has made his first franchise investment by acquiring Yarl Dinkers, a pickleball team set to compete in the Ceylon Pickle League. The acquisition represents a significant expansion into sports business for the athlete, who has partnered with Amila Kalugalage, described as his longtime manager and business associate, to lead the venture.
Kalugalage will assume the role of managing partner and oversee the strategic and commercial operations of the franchise. According to the franchise's statement, Kalugalage's appointment reflects an intention to build Dinkers into an established sporting brand with a defined identity and sustained purpose. Pathirana expressed his personal commitment to the project, describing it as an investment in an idea he believes in deeply.
Yarl Dinkers is currently preparing for the upcoming CPL auction, where the team will seek to build its player roster. The franchise has also indicated plans to develop a supporter community around the team. Both Pathirana and Kalugalage have articulated ambitions for the franchise to become an organization that players, commercial partners, and supporters feel proud to support.
