Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has postponed the 2025 edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). Planned to be played from late November to late December, the tournament won’t be held this year.
Given that Sri Lanka will co-host the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with India in February and March, SLC has decided to prepare for the International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament instead of hosting the LPL this year.
T20 World Cup over LPL for SLC
As per ICC guidelines, venues for the 20-team event must meet the demands of a major international competition. Therefore, the SLC has decided to fully focus on preparing the venues for the T20 World Cup and will move the LPL to a more suitable window.
R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPICS) in Colombo, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele, and Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla will be the three Sri Lankan venues for the T20 World Cup.
SLC has informed that all three are currently getting enhanced. RPICS, which is hosting 11 matches in the ongoing Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, will resume the renovation work after the ICC tournament ends.
“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,” SLC said in a release. They also added this:
- Enhance and upgrade spectator stands.
- Improve and modernize facilities for players, including dressing rooms, and training areas
- Upgrade and refurbish international broadcast facilities.
- Uplift media center infrastructure to accommodate the needs of global media coverage.
- Upgrade general venue requirements for such a multi-nation event.
