Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is set to introduce stricter regulations limiting national players to a maximum of three franchise cricket leagues per year, including the Lanka Premier League (LPL).
Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee member Sidath Wettimuny said the new regulations would be strictly enforced to ensure players prioritise their national commitments.
SLC had previously introduced similar restrictions on franchise league participation. However, the regulations were not consistently enforced, with several players participating in more tournaments than permitted.
Under the proposed measures, players will also be required to return to Sri Lanka at least 10 days before an international commitment, allowing sufficient time for preparation.
Wettimuny acknowledged that there had been instances where Sri Lankan players returned late from overseas franchise tournaments before joining the national team.
He noted that similar situations had also occurred recently and said the committee was determined to prevent such problems from recurring.
The committee also plans to strengthen the process of issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for overseas franchise leagues, with players’ fitness levels becoming an important factor in granting permission.
The proposed regulations are aimed at improving player fitness, managing workloads and ensuring national team commitments take priority over franchise cricket. (Newswire)