Sri Lanka Cricket has named 56 foreign players who will play in the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League.

There are no India or England players - apart from Azhar Mahmood - among the 56, who were picked by the seven franchises via a draft system.

Shahid Afridi was initially named icon player for Nagenahira but, reportedly, was put back into the draft and picked up by Ruhuna.

The reason for this is as yet unclear. Lasith Malinga is Ruhuna's icon player.

The list is dominated by players from Australia and Pakistan.

Misbah-ul-Haq, who stepped down as Pakistan's Twenty20 captain in May and was not picked for the Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka that followed, was picked up by Kandurata in the draft.

West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who has not featured in top-level cricket since May 2011, was drafted by Ruhuna.

The release made no mention of the salaries that the players will be paid.

Sri Lanka's domestic players will be drafted today.