Sri Lanka Cricket Drops Social Media Rule for Lanka Premier League After Backlash Sri Lanka Cricket has removed the controversial social media follower requirement for Icon and Star category players in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) following widespread criticism from the cricket community. The decision, announced in the revised player registration and draft guide for LPL Season 6, eliminates the previous mandate that players in these categories must have at least 250,000 followers on social media platforms. The change, effective from May 9, 2026, marks a significant shift in the tournament’s eligibility criteria, which had previously prioritized online presence over on-field performance. The rule was initially introduced to align with the LPL’s growing reliance on digital promotion, with players expected to engage fans through social media campaigns, promotional appearances, and content creation. However, the requirement sparked backlash from players, coaches, and fans, who argued that it created an unfair advantage for those with existing online followings. Critics highlighted the contradiction between Sri Lanka Cricket’s earlier advice to national players to minimize social media use and focus on their cricketing careers, and the LPL’s emphasis on online visibility. The revised regulations, published on May 9, 2026, retain core eligibility criteria such as T20 international appearances, franchise experience, and recent match activity. However, they no longer include the 250,000-follower threshold, which had been a point of contention. The updated document also removes all references to minimum social media follower counts across player categories, signaling a broader effort to depoliticize the selection process.#sri_lanka_cric #sri_lanka_cricket #lanka_preminier_league #lpl_season_6 #franchise_experience
