Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has removed the controversial social media follower requirement for players registering for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) Season 6 following strong criticism from fans, observers and sections of the cricket community.
An updated Version 1.5 of the LPL Season 6 Player Registration and Draft Guide, issued on May 9, no longer includes the earlier clause that required players in the Icon and Star categories to possess social media followings exceeding 250,000 followers.
The previous Version 1.4 document, released just a day earlier on May 8, had stated that players applying for the Icon and Star categories must have “a large fan base and commercial appeal,” including a social media following of over 250,000. The Gold category requirement had also included a minimum of 150,000 followers.
The move immediately sparked widespread debate online, with many questioning why social media popularity was being treated as a benchmark for player categorisation in Sri Lanka’s premier domestic T20 competition.
Critics argued that cricketing ability, international experience and on-field performances should remain the primary criteria in a professional sporting tournament rather than Instagram or social media influence.
The controversy also exposed what many viewed as a contradiction in SLC’s own messaging over the years. Sri Lanka Cricket has repeatedly advised national players to reduce distractions from social media and place greater focus on improving performances and discipline. Against that backdrop, the inclusion of follower-count requirements in the LPL regulations drew sharp reactions and accusations that the tournament was prioritising commercial appeal over cricketing merit.
Following the backlash, SLC quietly revised the regulations and removed all references to minimum social media follower counts across player categories.
The updated guidelines continue to retain cricket-based eligibility requirements, including T20 international appearances, franchise league experience and recent match activity, which are now expected to remain the key criteria for player classification.
However, despite removing the follower thresholds, the revised regulations still place considerable emphasis on player marketability and promotional commitments.
Players selected for the tournament will continue to be required to participate in fan engagement activities, promotional appearances and mandatory social media campaigns during the competition as the organisers seek to enhance the commercial value and visibility of the league.
The Lanka Premier League, which Sri Lanka Cricket is attempting to revive strongly after recent operational and scheduling difficulties, has been aiming to attract a larger international player pool and improve the tournament’s global profile ahead of its sixth edition.
But the latest controversy has also highlighted the delicate balance between cricketing credibility and entertainment-driven commercial strategies in modern franchise cricket.
For now, following significant public criticism, cricketing merit appears to have prevailed over social media metrics in determining player categories for the LPL.
