Sri Lanka Cricket Announces Major Overhaul With Fewer Top Clubs and Four-Day First-Class Cricket

Sri Lanka Cricket Begins Major Reform Programme

Sri Lanka Cricket’s Transformation Committee has announced a wide-ranging set of reforms aimed at changing the structure and administration of the country’s cricket system.

The committee, appointed by Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs in April 2026, provided an update on its work on September 21. Its programme covers domestic competitions, player development, coaching, pitch preparation, sports medicine, administration and the proposed new constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket.

Major Tier A Clubs to Be Reduced

One of the most significant changes concerns Sri Lanka’s domestic club structure. The number of Major Tier A clubs will be reduced from the current 14 to 10 over the next two years.

The committee said 12 clubs will continue to compete in Tier B. Its stated objective is to concentrate more of the country's leading players in the highest domestic tier and create a more competitive environment.

The committee expects the smaller top division to strengthen the domestic pathway towards Sri Lanka’s national teams by increasing the concentration of higher-level players within the leading competition.

Major Club Cricket Moves to Four-Day Matches

The Major Club Tier A League will also undergo a format change. Matches will be played over four days instead of the current three-day format.

The longer competition is intended to provide domestic players with greater exposure to extended red-ball cricket and better preparation for the demands of Test cricket.

The committee is also working on a more structured domestic calendar, including appropriate rest periods. The scheduling changes are intended to give players, coaches, clubs and broadcasters greater clarity while helping manage workloads.

Schools Cricket Also Set for a Revamp

The reform programme extends below the major club level. Sri Lanka’s schools cricket structure is also being reviewed as part of the wider development pathway.

Schools cricket has traditionally played an important role in identifying and developing young Sri Lankan cricketers. The committee said the competition will be revamped as it works towards creating a stronger pathway from junior cricket to domestic and international levels.

New Constitution Submitted to Government

Governance is another major part of the transformation programme. The committee said it completed a draft of a new Sri Lanka Cricket constitution within two months of its formation and submitted it to the government.

The government is now taking steps towards presenting the proposed constitution to Parliament. The committee said the document has been designed around modern cricket administration and is intended to provide a framework for the future governance of Sri Lanka Cricket.

The proposed constitutional changes are also relevant to Sri Lanka Cricket’s relationship with the International Cricket Council. The ICC said in July that it had noted progress on the revised constitution but that Sri Lanka would remain without representation at ICC Board meetings until elections are held.

Proposed Governance Structure

Earlier details of the proposed constitution indicated plans for a 14-member board, including elected and independently appointed members. The proposed system also includes changes to voting rights and greater separation between governance and day-to-day administration.

Under the proposal, the board would focus more heavily on policy, governance, transparency and accountability, while professional management would handle the organisation’s daily operations.

The final structure will depend on the legal and parliamentary process that follows the submission of the draft constitution.

Changes to Pitch and Venue Management

The transformation programme also includes changes to pitch preparation. Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed a new national curator following an independent selection process led by former ICC Head Curator Andy Atkinson.

Curators working at Sri Lanka’s international venues have also been brought under the direct employment of Sri Lanka Cricket. The move is intended to provide the board with greater oversight of pitch preparation across international grounds.

Coaching Structure Under Review

The committee has also begun restructuring the coaching system. New district and provincial coaches have been appointed following an interview process involving coach developer Ashley Ross.

Ross is also assisting with a review of Sri Lanka’s High Performance Centre and the wider coaching structure, including the skills and resources available across the system.

The district and provincial coaching positions are being brought under the direct employment of Sri Lanka Cricket as part of the changes.

Focus on Umpiring and Sports Medicine

The reforms extend beyond players and coaches. Former ICC umpires Lyndon Hannibal and Ruchira Palliyaguruge have been appointed to help improve umpiring standards, including at school level.

The sports medicine system is also being reorganised. Dr Alex Kountouris, who was part of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning setup, is overseeing changes in this area, while a sports psychologist has joined the men’s team environment.

Women’s Cricket and Professional Development

The transformation programme also includes measures aimed at strengthening the women’s game. Media and communication training has been introduced as part of a broader professional development programme.

The objective is to support players and staff beyond their on-field responsibilities and strengthen the professional structure surrounding Sri Lanka’s national teams.

Financial and Administrative Changes

The committee said it is also reviewing Sri Lanka Cricket’s operating costs and administrative structure.

Measures announced include withdrawing from unnecessary legal proceedings, reducing the use of consultants and removing positions that do not have clearly defined responsibilities. The committee also said it had reduced what it described as an excessively large coaching structure.

According to the committee, these measures are intended to reduce financial wastage and redirect resources towards player development and cricket infrastructure.

What Happens Next

The proposed reforms are being introduced across several areas rather than through a single change. The reduction in top-tier clubs and move to four-day cricket will directly affect the domestic playing structure, while the proposed constitution concerns the future administration of Sri Lankan cricket.

The constitutional proposal still has to progress through the relevant government and parliamentary procedures. The domestic competition changes and development initiatives will likewise be implemented over stages.

Sri Lanka Cricket’s Transformation Committee has said further measures will be introduced as the reform process progresses. The coming months will therefore be important in determining how these proposed changes translate into the country's domestic and international cricket structure.