Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed that the 2025 Lanka Premier League will not go ahead this year. A statement issued late on Tuesday said the decision was taken “after careful consideration of the broader requirement of preparing well in advance” for the men’s T20 World Cup, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka early next year.
The league had been pencilled in for 27 November to 23 December, with matches in Colombo, Kandy and Dambulla. That window is now clear, giving ground staff and contractors more time to complete upgrades demanded under ICC regulations for a 20-team global event. SLC insists the pause will allow “full focus on ensuring comprehensive venue readiness ahead of the World Cup.”
Work at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, illustrates the juggling act. Renovations were halted so the ground could stage 11 matches in the ongoing Women’s World Cup. Those diggers roll back in as soon as the last women’s fixture is done.
Former Sri Lanka opener Russell Arnold believes the shift is sensible, if slightly frustrating for local players. “Missing a season isn’t ideal, but a polished World Cup could do far more for Sri Lankan cricket in the long run,” he told state television. Domestic all-rounder Kamindu Mendis struck a similar note: “The league gives us exposure, but the World Cup is the bigger stage. If the grounds need time, so be it.”
There is also a business angle. Talks to add a sixth franchise were already under way, yet two existing teams – Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers – were terminated earlier this year for what SLC called failure to meet contractual obligations. Fresh owners are still being sourced. In that context, an extra 12 months provides room to tidy paperwork as well as terraces.
SLC officials have hinted that the LPL could return in a mid-2026 slot, though nothing is signed off. A July–August window would mirror the tournament’s first three editions and avoid a clash with end-of-year international tours.
For now, players will look towards the domestic first-class season and possible overseas T20 opportunities. Supporters lose a month of floodlit six-hitting, yet gain the prospect of a smoother World Cup on home soil. It is a compromise—imperfect, inevitable and, many feel, ultimately worthwhile.
