SLC postpones 2025 edition of LPL
SLC said that the decision was taken "after careful consideration of the broader requirement of preparing well in advance" for next year's T20 World Cup
ESPNcricinfo staff
22-Oct-2025 • 3 hrs ago
Drones form the Lanka Premier League (LPL) logo at the LPL final in 2024 • NurPhoto via Getty Images
The 2025 edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will not take place this year as was originally planned, SLC has announced. In a press release, SLC said that the decision was taken "after careful consideration of the broader requirement of preparing well in advance" for next year's T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The 2025 LPL was originally slated to be held between November 27 and December 23 across three venues - Colombo, Kandy and Dambulla. SLC, however, has now decided to move the tournament to another window, in order to allow "full focus on ensuring comprehensive venue readiness ahead of the World Cup."
As per ICC guidelines, all venues for the upcoming 20-team World Cup are meant to be in perfect condition to meet the demands of hosting a major international tournament. Accordingly, SLC said they needed the time to upgrade and enhance the infrastructure in and around the grounds.
The R Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo, which is one of three venues in Sri Lanka, had temporarily paused its renovation work to host 11 matches in the ongoing Women's World Cup. SLC confirmed that the ground will resume development work immediately upon the completion of its scheduled games.
The last two seasons of the LPL took place during July and August, however this year, with the 2026 T20 World Cup set to begin in February, SLC had initially felt the later window better suited their needs.
ESPNcricinfo had also learnt that talks are underway to incorporate a sixth team into the LPL. The first five editions saw five teams representing Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Dambulla and Jaffna compete. Earlier this year, Jaffna Kings - formerly the longest-standing franchise, having joined in the tournament's second edition - and Colombo Strikers were terminated by SLC for "failure to uphold contractual obligations." As a result, the LPL currently has no franchise owners with a history stretching back beyond 2024. New owners for both the Jaffna and Colombo teams are yet to be announced.