When Will the LPL 2025 Take Place in Colombo, Pallekele and Dambulla?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- LPL 2025 will take place from November 27 to December 23.
- Matches will be held in Colombo, Pallekele, and Dambulla.
- The schedule aligns with the 2026 T20 World Cup.
- New ownership for some franchises is anticipated.
- Focus on developing more batting-friendly pitches.
Colombo, Aug 1 (NationPress) The upcoming 2025 Lanka Premier League (LPL) is scheduled to run from November 27 to December 23, marking the sixth season of this thrilling tournament. Matches are set to take place across three prime venues: Colombo, Pallekele, and Dambulla.
This marks the fourth occurrence in six years that the LPL is being conducted in the November-December timeframe, deviating from its traditional July-August period. After holding the last two seasons mid-year, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) decided on a later schedule this year, strategically aligning it with the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup set to commence in February.
"The objective behind scheduling the LPL during this period is to synchronize the tournament with the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026," stated Samantha Dodanwela, Tournament Director of LPL.
The LPL, recognized as Sri Lanka’s premier domestic T20 tournament with an international flair, provides a vibrant platform for the nation's top first-class cricketers to showcase their talents alongside international stars. Since its inception in 2020, the Lanka Premier League has been an annual event, becoming a crucial part of Sri Lanka’s cricketing landscape.
Earlier this year, Sri Lanka Cricket terminated the contracts of the Jaffna Kings—previously the longest-standing franchise since joining in the second edition—and the Colombo Strikers, due to their "failure to uphold contractual obligations." As a result, there are currently no existing LPL franchises with ownership histories extending beyond 2024, with announcements regarding new owners for the Jaffna and Colombo teams still pending.
Dodanwela also indicated the board's plan to cultivate more batting-friendly pitches to assist players in adapting to the conditions expected during the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India. "We were quite satisfied with the wickets in the last edition, particularly in Dambulla and Kandy. There were numerous high scores and even several centuries during that segment of the tournament. The batting conditions were somewhat challenging only in Colombo," Dodanwela noted.
Supporting his observations, work is currently in progress on the pitches at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Several national players, including Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva, have recently emphasized the necessity for surfaces that provide better support for batters.