Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed that the player draft for the 2026 Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be held on June 1, with more than 650 overseas cricketers from 21 nations having registered for the tournament.
Pakistan leads the overseas pool with 102 players, reflecting sustained interest from the subcontinent. The draft will determine how the franchises assemble their squads, and the strong turnout from 21 countries points to the league’s growing global recognition since its relaunch.
The draft date follows SLC’s earlier confirmation of 14 pre-signed marquee players retained directly by the franchises, who are exempt from the draft pool. The tournament is scheduled to begin on July 17 with an opener split between Jaffna and Galle, following the overseas registration window that opened in May.
In an update on May 29, Newswire reported the final draft pool had been set at 421 cricketers — 179 Sri Lankan and 242 overseas — divided across five tier categories, with the draw scheduled to start at 1:30 PM Colombo time. The 242 overseas figure reflects the cricketers actually entering the pool, drawn from the broader registrant base of more than 650 across 21 nations.
