IPG Group successfully completed the Lanka Premier League 2026 Player Draft in Colombo, marking an important milestone in the build-up to the sixth edition of Sri Lanka’s premier franchise T20 tournament.
The Player Draft brought together franchise owners, team representatives, cricket administrators and key stakeholders as the five LPL franchises finalised their squad combinations ahead of the upcoming season. With a strong pool of Sri Lankan and international players entering the draft, LPL 2026 is expected to deliver a highly competitive tournament featuring established names, emerging talent and a strong mix of regional and global T20 experience.
The successful completion of the draft reflects the continued growth of the Lanka Premier League as a professional cricket and entertainment property. It also signals the growing confidence of franchise owners and players in the tournament’s structure, commercial potential and role in strengthening Sri Lanka’s cricketing ecosystem.
The five franchises, SC Jaffna Kings, Galle Gallants, Kandy Royals, Colombo Kaps and Dambulla Sixers, will now move into the next phase of tournament preparation, including squad planning, team strategy, player integration, fan engagement and commercial activation ahead of the season.
Welcoming the progress made through the draft, Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports said, “The Lanka Premier League has an important role to play in creating opportunities for Sri Lankan cricketers, strengthening professional cricket and positioning Sri Lanka as a strong destination for international sporting events. The successful completion of the Player Draft is a positive step in preparing for the tournament, and I welcome the continued efforts to develop the LPL as a platform that benefits players, fans, franchises and the wider sports economy.”
Commenting on the successful completion of the draft, Lanka Premier League Director, Samantha Dodanwela said, “The completion of the LPL 2026 Player Draft is an important step towards delivering a strong sixth edition of the tournament. The quality of players selected across the franchises reflects the growing appeal of the LPL and the confidence that local and international cricketers have in the league. We are pleased to see competitive squads taking shape, and this will add significant value to the tournament and to Sri Lankan cricket.”
IPG Founder and CEO, Anil Mohan said, “We are pleased to have successfully completed the LPL 2026 Player Draft with the support of Sri Lanka Cricket, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, franchise owners and all tournament stakeholders. This draft has brought together a strong mix of Sri Lankan talent, international experience and emerging players, which is exactly what a high-quality T20 league requires. Our focus now is to build on this momentum and deliver a professionally managed, commercially strong and fan-focused tournament.”
LPL 2026 is expected to bring together high-quality cricket, strong franchise competition and wider engagement across broadcast, sponsorship, tourism and fan communities. The tournament will also provide Sri Lankan players with the opportunity to compete alongside experienced international cricketers in a professional T20 environment.
