Sri Lanka to enhance player base at LPL

Jaffna Kings have been the most successful LPL team winning the title four times

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the IPG Group, the event rights holder of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), are confident of attracting a strong pool of international talent for the 2026 edition of the T20 franchise tournament.

The online portal for foreign player registration for LPL 2026 went live yesterday and the portal will remain open until May 20 according to the organisers.

The registration window is expected to draw interest from players worldwide with top players from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, New Zealand, the West Indies and Australia already showing interest in playing in the LPL according to the organisers.

In the previous edition, more than 600 overseas players registered for the tournament.

For the 2026 edition, SLC also plans to broaden the league’s international player base by attracting talent from other cricketing nations, including Ireland, Scotland, Zimbabwe, Nepal, USA, Oman, Italy, Namibia and the Netherlands.

“We are absolutely delighted with the interest and enquiries from top cricketers across all cricket playing nations who want to play in season six of the LPL. 

“The overwhelming response from players clearly underlines the growing status of the LPL”, said LPL tournament director Samantha Dodanwela.

Each team will be permitted to include two international headline-making players and two Sri Lankan players of similar breed strengthening the competitive balance and international appeal of the tournament. 

The pre-signed players for LPL 2026 are expected to be announced next week.

The sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League will be played across four venues, the SSC ground and Premadasa stadium in Colombo, Pallekele and Dambulla scheduled to start on July 10 and end on August 5.

Since its launch in 2020, the LPL has completed five seasons and the Jaffna Kings have been the most successful team winning four titles. 

The LPL was not held in 2025 as SLC said it was focusing on preparing its venues to host the T20 World Cup matches.