On Oct. 22, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced that the 2025 Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be postponed. The board said the move is needed to focus on venue upgrades for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which the country will co‑host with India in February‑March next year.
The fifth‑edition LPL was scheduled to kick off on Dec. 1, featuring 24 matches—20 league games and four knockout fixtures—played in Colombo, Kandy and Dambulla. Five franchises would battle each other twice in the league phase. The top two teams would battle in Qualifier 1, the winner moving straight to the final. The 3rd and 4th places would play the Eliminator; the winner would then face the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2 for the second spot in the final.
SLC explained that postponing the LPL “provides a more suitable window, allowing full focus on ensuring comprehensive venue readiness ahead of the T20 World Cup.” The board said the decision will give squads enough time to improve ground infrastructure, helping the country run a successful world‑cup event.
The board outlined key upgrade areas for the three main venues:
* Expand and brand new spectator stands
* Modernize player facilities, including dressing rooms and training areas
* Upgrade broadcast and media centre infrastructure to meet global coverage needs
* Refresh general venue equipment and services for a multi‑national event
One of the key sites, the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPICS) in Colombo, will resume renovation after it hosts 11 matches of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. SLC said work on the stadium will restart immediately once the scheduled games finish.
In short, Sri Lanka Cricket is pausing the 2025 LPL to guarantee that the country’s major cricket venues are ready for their standout role in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Fans can expect the league to return in the future, once the world‑cup upgrades are complete.
Source: ianslive
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