LPL to Skip Auction, Switch to Player Draft System

Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed that this year’s Lanka Premier League will move away from the auction format, opting instead for a player draft scheduled for March 22.

The sixth edition of the LPL, originally planned for December 2025, was postponed to ensure venues are prepared for the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India. The tournament will now run from July 8 to August 8, which SLC considers the ideal window.

This marks the league’s return to the draft system for the first time since 2022, following two seasons of auctions. According to an SLC statement, teams will select both local and international players through the draft for the upcoming season.

Plans for adding a sixth franchise have not progressed, leaving the league with its usual five-team structure. Earlier this year, SLC terminated the Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers due to contractual issues, meaning new owners for those teams are still pending.