Nipun Karunanayake

** Unavailable for the UK/EU 2023 season **

Nipun Karunanayake is, without a doubt, one of the best professional cricketers on the market.

The Sri Lankan run machine, who plays for Saracens Sports Club, has been prolific in UK club cricket in recent years playing two seasons apiece for Himley (Birmingham League - 2017, 19), and Cuckfield (Sussex League - 2021-22).

During these four seasons, Karunanayake has racked up 12 centuries amongst 4,069 runs at 59.84 alongside 50 wickets at 29.30 with his useful leg spin. Last summer (2022) the Sri Lankan star was exceptional in the Sussex League guiding Cuckfield to promotion hitting 983 runs at 57.82 with 4 hundreds.

In his homeland, the explosive left-handed has excelled for numerous clubs including Saracens Sports Club (2018/19-2022/23), Moors Sports Club (2019/20-2020/21), and Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club (2009/10-2017/18).

After 6 seasons on the domestic circuit, Karunanayake really hit his straps during his prolific 2016/17 summer. He finished as Sri Lanka's second-leading run-scorer, hitting 926 runs at 54.47, including personal batting milestones in 7 of his 9 first-class matches, namely 124 (v Nondescripts), 108 (v Badureliya), 77 (v Sinhalese), 62 (v Tamil Union), 183 (v Galle), 98 (v Burgher) and 68 (v Saracens), propelled him onto the national radar.

Courtesy of his success, he was selected for, and skippered, the Sri Lankan President's XI who played the touring England Lions (February 2017) and featured on the West Indies tour, for the Sri Lankan A side (October 2017).

Karunanayake has long been regarded as a player of national potential. He featured for both the Sri Lankan Schools (2007/08) and played 4 matches for the Sri Lankan Under-19s against Australia (2 Youth ODI’s in 2009) and England (2 Youth Tests in 2010). During the latter, after batting at 6 in the opening Test, he was moved to the top of the order in the second and struck 90 against an England attack featuring Jake Ball (Eng/Notts), Daniel Payne (Gloucs), Adam Ball (Kent), Lewis Gregory (Eng/Somerset) and Joe Root (Eng/Yorks).

The Sri Lankan star has been outstanding over the years, both home and abroad. Having guided Cuckfield back to the Sussex Premier League he is now open to other opportunities in 2024. A high-class performer and someone we highly recommend not only for his onfield exploits, but his commitment off the field too. An exceptional pro.