Sri Lanka Cricket overhaul sees top-tier clubs cut to 10 and first-class games extended to four days
SLC's Transformation Committee has unveiled sweeping domestic reforms, including a leaner club structure and longer first-class matches, alongside a new constitution submitted to government.
Sri Lanka Cricket's Transformation Committee has announced a significant restructuring of the country's domestic game, reducing the number of Tier A clubs from 14 to 10 over the next two years while keeping the 12 Tier B clubs unchanged. Alongside the club reduction, the committee has extended the first-class tournament from three days to four days per match.
The committee, appointed on April 29, 2026 by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, published a progress statement on September 21, 2026. On the same date, the committee submitted a newly drafted constitution to the government, which is now proceeding with steps to present it to Parliament. The constitution was completed within two months of the committee beginning its work. The statement explained the rationale behind the club restructuring.
"The reduction in the number of Tier ‘A’ clubs is intended to ensure that the country’s best players compete in the highest-level domestic tournament. The Committee is of the view that a more competitive domestic structure will raise the overall standard of domestic cricket and strengthen the feeder pathway to the national teams," the release said as quoted by Cricbuzz.
"The Committee believes the proposed Constitution, which has been developed to reflect the requirements of the modern game, will provide a stable foundation for the future development of Sri Lanka Cricket. It is also expected to provide a framework that is acceptable to all key stakeholders, including the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Sri Lankan public, and cricket fans," it added.
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What does the new constitution establish for Sri Lanka Cricket?
The new constitution is the central administrative document the committee has produced since its appointment. Its submission to the government on September 21, 2026 marks the formal handover of the document, with Parliament the next stage in the approval process.
Sri Lanka's inability to hold elections under a recognised constitution has had direct consequences at the international level. The ICC board, at its July 2026 meeting in Edinburgh, noted progress on the constitution but confirmed that Sri Lanka would 'continue to be unable to be represented at ICC Board meetings for the time being'. The governance situation has also contributed to Sri Lanka losing hosting rights for the 2024 men's Under-19 World Cup and the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy scheduled for February 2027, with the latter moved to India.
The committee has also taken steps to address financial management. The board trimmed costs by exiting unnecessary legal battles, cutting consultants and reducing what the committee described as an 'excessively large' coaching structure. The committee is also offering redress to employees and clubs it believes were 'unfairly penalised'.
"The Committee believes these measures will help reduce financial wastage and enable more resources to be directed towards player development and cricket infrastructure," the release said.
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What other reforms has the committee introduced?
Beyond the domestic structure and constitution, the committee has initiated changes across several areas of cricket administration. A structured domestic calendar with built-in rest periods is being developed, and a schools cricket tournament revamp is underway as part of a talent-identification pathway.
On the technical side, Andy Atkinson, the ICC's former head curator, led the hiring of a new national curator, and all international venue curators have been brought under direct SLC employment. Ashley Ross has been brought in to restructure coaching, including a review of the High Performance Centre. Former ICC umpires Lyndon Hannibal and Ruchira Palliyaguruge have been appointed to raise umpiring standards from school level upwards.
Dr Alex Kountouris, a physiotherapist who was part of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning team, is overseeing a sports medicine reorganisation. A sports psychologist has also joined the men's team setup. The women's game is receiving attention through media and communication training as part of a professional development programme.
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