Former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan has become co-owner of Lanka Premier League (LPL) franchise Anchor Jaffna Kings after Stockholm-based investment group Anchor Sports completed its acquisition of the four-time champions.
The franchise, previously known as Jaffna Kings, has been rebranded as Anchor Jaffna Kings, marking the beginning of a new ownership era led by Anchor Sports founder Nagendra Siddoutam and Zaheer Khan.
The acquisition comes less than two weeks after the previous ownership group, Sports Commune, was removed from control of the franchise following off-field controversy.
Sports Commune, co-owned by former India Under-19 cricketer Manjot Kalra and entrepreneur Mayank Goel, had acquired the team in May this year. Kalra was arrested on 16 July on corruption charges, while Goel is out of the scene ever since July 16.
In the aftermath of Kalra's arrest, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the league's commercial rights holder, Innovative Production Group (IPG), assumed direct operational control of the franchise. The governing bodies also provided emergency funding to ensure the team could continue competing in the ongoing LPL season.
The Sports Commune ownership lasted only a few months, continuing a pattern of ownership changes for the Jaffna franchise. Before Sports Commune's acquisition, the team had been owned by the Lyca Group between 2021 and 2025. During the inaugural LPL season in 2020, the franchise operated under a consortium led by Arnold Anandan and Rahul Sood.
Each of the previous ownership tenures came to an end after failing to meet financial obligations, making Anchor Sports the latest group to take charge of the league's most decorated franchise.
Despite the instability off the field, Jaffna have remained one of the dominant teams in the competition. They have won four LPL titles in the first five completed editions of the tournament and are currently among the top two teams in this season's standings, having secured four victories from six matches under captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
Anchor Sports said the acquisition forms part of its expanding international cricket portfolio, which already includes the Antwerp Anchors in the European T20 Premier League and the Vancouver Anchors men's and women's teams in Canada's Super 60 League.
The company said it looked forward to working with Sri Lanka Cricket, Innovative Production Group, players, commercial partners and supporters to build on the franchise's success.
"We welcome Anchor Sports to the LPL family as they take over one of the league's most successful franchises," said Anil Mohan, Chairman and Chief Executive of Innovative Production Group. "Jaffna has set the benchmark for excellence in the competition, and we are confident the new ownership will continue to build on that legacy."
Anchor Sports owner Nagendra Siddoutam described the acquisition as an important milestone for the group.
"Sri Lanka has a rich cricketing heritage, and the LPL has quickly established itself as a highly competitive league," he said. "We look forward to investing in the franchise and contributing to the continued growth of the competition."
Zaheer Khan said joining the ownership group represented an exciting opportunity.
"I've always admired the quality and variety of bowling talent produced by Sri Lanka," he said. "I've enjoyed many memorable experiences in the country, and I'm excited to now contribute to the game there as an owner."
LPL Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela said Khan's experience would provide significant value to the league and its emerging players.
"Having someone of Zaheer Khan's calibre involved is a major positive for the competition," he said. "His experience and mentorship will be invaluable for the development of young Sri Lankan cricketers, both on and off the field."
The acquisition brings fresh financial backing to a franchise that has enjoyed sustained success on the field despite repeated ownership changes behind the scenes.
The franchise, previously known as Jaffna Kings, has been rebranded as Anchor Jaffna Kings, marking the beginning of a new ownership era led by Anchor Sports founder Nagendra Siddoutam and Zaheer Khan.
The acquisition comes less than two weeks after the previous ownership group, Sports Commune, was removed from control of the franchise following off-field controversy.
Sports Commune, co-owned by former India Under-19 cricketer Manjot Kalra and entrepreneur Mayank Goel, had acquired the team in May this year. Kalra was arrested on 16 July on corruption charges, while Goel is out of the scene ever since July 16.
In the aftermath of Kalra's arrest, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the league's commercial rights holder, Innovative Production Group (IPG), assumed direct operational control of the franchise. The governing bodies also provided emergency funding to ensure the team could continue competing in the ongoing LPL season.
The Sports Commune ownership lasted only a few months, continuing a pattern of ownership changes for the Jaffna franchise. Before Sports Commune's acquisition, the team had been owned by the Lyca Group between 2021 and 2025. During the inaugural LPL season in 2020, the franchise operated under a consortium led by Arnold Anandan and Rahul Sood.
Each of the previous ownership tenures came to an end after failing to meet financial obligations, making Anchor Sports the latest group to take charge of the league's most decorated franchise.
Despite the instability off the field, Jaffna have remained one of the dominant teams in the competition. They have won four LPL titles in the first five completed editions of the tournament and are currently among the top two teams in this season's standings, having secured four victories from six matches under captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa.
Anchor Sports said the acquisition forms part of its expanding international cricket portfolio, which already includes the Antwerp Anchors in the European T20 Premier League and the Vancouver Anchors men's and women's teams in Canada's Super 60 League.
The company said it looked forward to working with Sri Lanka Cricket, Innovative Production Group, players, commercial partners and supporters to build on the franchise's success.
"We welcome Anchor Sports to the LPL family as they take over one of the league's most successful franchises," said Anil Mohan, Chairman and Chief Executive of Innovative Production Group. "Jaffna has set the benchmark for excellence in the competition, and we are confident the new ownership will continue to build on that legacy."
Anchor Sports owner Nagendra Siddoutam described the acquisition as an important milestone for the group.
"Sri Lanka has a rich cricketing heritage, and the LPL has quickly established itself as a highly competitive league," he said. "We look forward to investing in the franchise and contributing to the continued growth of the competition."
Zaheer Khan said joining the ownership group represented an exciting opportunity.
"I've always admired the quality and variety of bowling talent produced by Sri Lanka," he said. "I've enjoyed many memorable experiences in the country, and I'm excited to now contribute to the game there as an owner."
LPL Tournament Director Samantha Dodanwela said Khan's experience would provide significant value to the league and its emerging players.
"Having someone of Zaheer Khan's calibre involved is a major positive for the competition," he said. "His experience and mentorship will be invaluable for the development of young Sri Lankan cricketers, both on and off the field."
The acquisition brings fresh financial backing to a franchise that has enjoyed sustained success on the field despite repeated ownership changes behind the scenes.
