Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has decided to postpone the 2025 edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) to a later window, citing the need to prioritize preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in early 2026, which Sri Lanka will co-host with India.
The sixth season of the LPL was originally scheduled to run from November 27 to December 23, 2025, across three venues — Colombo, Kandy, and Dambulla. This would have been the fourth time in six years that the tournament was set to take place in the November–December window, rather than its originally preferred July–August slot. SLC had opted for the later dates this year in an effort to align the tournament more closely with preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled for February–March.
The board said the postponement was made after “careful consideration” of the ICC’s requirements for host nations to ensure all venues are fully ready for a global event of such scale.
“Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to shift the 2025 edition of the Lanka Premier League to a more suitable window, allowing full focus on ensuring comprehensive venue readiness ahead of the World Cup,” SLC said in a statement.
As part of the preparations, extensive infrastructure upgrades are underway across the country’s main international venues. These include improvements to spectator stands, dressing rooms, and training areas, as well as modernizing broadcast facilities and media centers to meet international standards.
According to SLC, work is currently ongoing at three major venues earmarked for the World Cup, including the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Renovation work there had been temporarily halted to host 11 matches of the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 but will resume once those games conclude.
SLC believes the decision will provide “adequate time” to enhance ground infrastructure and ensure Sri Lanka is ready to successfully stage one of world cricket’s biggest tournaments.
The sixth season of the LPL was originally scheduled to run from November 27 to December 23, 2025, across three venues — Colombo, Kandy, and Dambulla. This would have been the fourth time in six years that the tournament was set to take place in the November–December window, rather than its originally preferred July–August slot. SLC had opted for the later dates this year in an effort to align the tournament more closely with preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled for February–March.
The board said the postponement was made after “careful consideration” of the ICC’s requirements for host nations to ensure all venues are fully ready for a global event of such scale.
“Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to shift the 2025 edition of the Lanka Premier League to a more suitable window, allowing full focus on ensuring comprehensive venue readiness ahead of the World Cup,” SLC said in a statement.
As part of the preparations, extensive infrastructure upgrades are underway across the country’s main international venues. These include improvements to spectator stands, dressing rooms, and training areas, as well as modernizing broadcast facilities and media centers to meet international standards.
According to SLC, work is currently ongoing at three major venues earmarked for the World Cup, including the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Renovation work there had been temporarily halted to host 11 matches of the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 but will resume once those games conclude.
SLC believes the decision will provide “adequate time” to enhance ground infrastructure and ensure Sri Lanka is ready to successfully stage one of world cricket’s biggest tournaments.
