Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has scrapped the controversial social-media follower requirement for Icon and Star category players in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) Season 6 Player Registration and Draft Guide just one day after introducing it, following backlash on social media and from sections of the cricket community.
An updated Version 1.5 of the guide, issued on May 9, removes all references to minimum social-media follower counts across player categories. The previous Version 1.4 released on May 8 had stated that Icon and Star players must have “a large fan base and commercial appeal,” with a social-media following exceeding 250,000, while Gold-category players were required to have over 150,000 followers.
The reversal followed criticism that questioned the irony of SLC — which has previously urged national players to limit social-media use — tying tournament eligibility to online popularity. Mandatory promotional obligations for selected players, including social-media posts, fan engagement and personal appearances, remain in the updated document.
Cricketing benchmarks for the categories are unchanged. Icon-tier players must still have played at least 75 T20 internationals, featured in over 100 franchise T20 matches, and played a minimum of 30 matches during the past 18 months. The Star category requires at least 50 T20Is and similar franchise activity. Gold-category players need a minimum of 30 T20Is, more than 75 franchise T20 matches and at least 20 matches in the last 18 months. Classic-category eligibility requires at least 20 T20 internationals and 50 franchise T20 appearances.
The criteria follow Sri Lanka Cricket’s May 5 announcement opening foreign-player registration on May 8 for the sixth edition of the league, which is scheduled for July and August across the SSC and R. Premadasa stadiums in Colombo, Pallekele, and Rangiri Dambulla. Friday’s notice extends the registration window to May 20. Foreign-player marketability has historically driven LPL ticket and broadcast value, with players from Australia, the Caribbean, England, Pakistan and South Africa featuring across past editions.
The shift comes as the global T20 market increasingly differentiates between playing pedigree and commercial draw — most visibly in IPL franchise auctions — and follows the Sports Ministry’s Transformation Committee taking up its mandate at SLC under Eran Wickramaratne.
Sources: Newswire — original criteria, Newswire — reversal.
