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
IPL 2026 - Sri Lankan Players Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana Yet to Clear Mandatory Fitness Tests Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed that 15 players under central contracts have not yet completed the SLC-mandated fitness tests required to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for participation in IPL 2026. Six additional players are believed to have failed at least one attempt, leaving only 24 of the 45 centrally-contracted players to have passed the tests. The fitness requirements are part of SLC’s broader initiative to overhaul its approach to player fitness, which has also been applied to the domestic National Super League (NSL) tournament. Among the players yet to take the tests, Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana stand out due to their proximity to the IPL 2026 season. Hasaranga, the legspinner, has been sidelined since sustaining a left hamstring injury during Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup opener against Ireland in February. Sources close to the player indicate that he is unlikely to be available for any matches soon, and SLC officials noted that Hasaranga has not yet requested an NOC. The delay in his fitness evaluation has raised concerns about his readiness for the IPL, which begins in April. Pathirana, who strained his calf during the T20 World Cup match against Australia, has reportedly begun bowling in the nets as part of his recovery. While no official date has been set for his fitness test, sources suggest it is likely to occur in the coming week. Pathirana is expected to join Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026, with hopes that he will be fit in time for the tournament. However, his timeline remains uncertain, and the SLC’s strict fitness criteria could impact his availability.#ipl_2026 #sri_lanka_cric #matheesha_pathirana #wanindu_hasaranga #nslnational_super_league
Sri Lanka Cricket Appoints Gary Kirsten as New Head Coach Sri Lanka Cricket has officially announced the appointment of former South African opener Gary Kirsten as their new head coach. The 58-year-old will assume his role on 15 April following a two-year contract. His tenure will include overseeing the team’s preparations for the 2027 50-over World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Kirsten’s coaching career includes leading India to the 2011 Cricket World Cup title and helping South Africa achieve the top ranking in all formats of the game in 2013. Prior to joining Sri Lanka, he served as a consultant for Namibia during their participation in the T20 World Cup. His most recent coaching position was with Pakistan’s limited-overs teams, but he resigned from that role in October 2024, just six months into a two-year contract. The Sri Lankan team, which recently exited the T20 World Cup, will face Afghanistan in three T20 Internationals this month. They are also set to play three T20Is and three ODIs in England in September. Sanath Jayasuriya, the previous head coach, had announced his resignation following the team’s exit from the T20 World Cup. Kirsten’s playing career with South Africa spanned from 1993 to 2004, during which he scored 14,087 runs across 101 Test matches and 185 one-day internationals. He achieved 21 Test centuries and 13 ODI centuries. His appointment marks a significant shift for Sri Lanka as they aim to rebuild their cricketing fortunes ahead of major international tournaments.#south_africa #t20_world_cup #gary_kirsten #sri_lanka_cric #sanath_jayasuriya
