Sri Lanka Cricket’s Major Tier ‘A’ club structure is set for a major overhaul, with the Cricket Transformation Committee deciding to reduce the number of clubs in the top domestic tier from 14 to 10 over the next two years.
The move is among the key measures announced by the Cricket Transformation Committee (CTC), appointed by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs on April 29, 2026, as part of a broader programme to reform the administration and development of Sri Lankan cricket.
The committee said the reduction is intended to ensure that the country’s best players compete in a smaller and more competitive top-tier tournament. The 12 clubs currently in Tier ‘B’ will be retained.
According to the CTC, concentrating the leading players in fewer Tier ‘A’ teams is expected to strengthen the standard of domestic cricket and improve the pathway towards the national teams.
The committee has also decided to extend the Major Club Tier ‘A’ League from its current three-day format to four days. The change is aimed at providing players with greater preparation for Test cricket.
A structured domestic cricket calendar is also being developed, with rest periods to be incorporated to help manage player workloads, reduce injury and burnout risks, and allow clubs, coaches and broadcasters to plan ahead.
The transformation programme extends beyond the Major Clubs structure. The committee said work is underway to revamp the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Tournament, which forms an important part of the country's talent-identification and development pathway.
New Constitution submitted
On governance, the CTC said it completed the drafting of a new Constitution within two months and submitted it to the Government. The Government is now taking the necessary steps towards presenting the proposed Constitution to Parliament.
The committee said the proposed framework has been developed to meet the requirements of the modern game and provide a stable foundation for the future administration of Sri Lanka Cricket.
Focus on pitches and coaching
The committee has recruited an experienced National Curator following an independent interview process led by former ICC Head Curator Andy Atkinson.
It has also brought the curators working at Sri Lanka Cricket's international venues under the direct employment of Sri Lanka Cricket, giving the organisation greater control over pitch preparation.
Coaching structures are also being reviewed. A new group of District and Provincial Coaches has been appointed following an interview process involving coach developer Ashley Ross.
Ross is also assisting with a review of the High Performance Centre and the wider coaching structure, including the skills available within the system.
The District and Provincial Coaches are being brought under the direct employment of Sri Lanka Cricket as part of efforts to increase oversight and accountability.
Umpiring and player welfare
The CTC has appointed former ICC umpire Lyndon Hannibal as Umpires Development Manager and former ICC umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge as Umpire Coach.
The two officials are expected to work on improving the standards of match officials from school and club cricket through to the international level.
The Sports Medicine structure is also being reorganised with assistance from Dr. Alex Kountouris, while a sports psychologist has been brought into the national men's programme to support mental skills and psychological preparation.
The committee has also launched training programmes for women cricketers, including media and communication skills development, as part of efforts to further develop women's cricket.
Cost-cutting measures
The CTC said it has introduced measures to streamline Sri Lanka Cricket's operations and improve financial management.
Among the measures cited are withdrawing from unnecessary legal proceedings, ending the engagement of unnecessary consultants, removing positions without clearly defined roles and reducing what it described as an excessively large coaching structure.
The committee said the measures are intended to reduce financial wastage and redirect resources towards player development and cricket infrastructure.
It has also initiated a redress process for Sri Lanka Cricket employees and clubs that it says were unfairly penalised in the past.
The CTC said the measures implemented so far are intended to lay the foundation for the long-term transformation of Sri Lanka Cricket, while the committee remains in place until an elected administration is established.
