Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has officially announced the postponement of the 2025 Lanka Premier League (LPL). The primary reason cited by the board is the critical need to prioritize extensive preparations for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which Sri Lanka will co-host with India.
This major global event is scheduled for February–March next year. The SLC’s decision is a strategic one, designed to allow ample time to upgrade venues and ensure all facilities are in peak condition for the international tournament.
The sixth edition of the LPL was originally scheduled to commence on December 1st, featuring a total of 24 matches. These included 20 league games and four knockout rounds, planned across the cities of Colombo, Kandy, and Dambulla. Five franchises were set to compete against each other twice in the league phase before proceeding to the playoffs.
In its official statement, Sri Lanka Cricket clarified, “Accordingly, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to shift the 2025 edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) to a more suitable window, allowing full focus on ensuring comprehensive venue readiness ahead of the World Cup.”
The board further emphasized that this postponement is vital for improving infrastructure. “SLC believes this decision will provide adequate time to work on enhancing and upgrading the ground infrastructure to conduct a successful tournament in the country,” the statement added.
Specific improvement plans for the venues selected to host World Cup matches include:
- Enhancing and upgrading spectator stands.
- Improving and modernizing facilities for players, including dressing rooms and training areas.
- Upgrading and refurbishing international broadcast facilities.
SLC also confirmed that the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPICS) in Colombo, one of the three designated World Cup venues, will recommence its renovation work immediately upon the completion of its scheduled matches for the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Cricket fans can anticipate new dates for the LPL’s sixth season to be announced once preparations for the T20 World Cup are well underway and a more suitable window is identified.