Sri Lanka Cricket had announced its aspiration to launch Lankan Premier League (LPL) back in February this year. Despite an unsuccessful attempt of having their own league—SLPL, in 2012, the board had once again opted for a franchise-based tournament.

However, the league that was supposed to be held between mid-August and mid-September has been postponed. Russell Arnold, the director of LPL, took to his official Twitter account to confirm the news on Friday (July 6).

Hi Folks !!! The Lankan Premier League which was to be played in Aug/Sep has been postponed. #Uncontrollables @OfficialSLC

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) July 6, 2018

“We would have loved to make profits, no doubt about that. But it was not going to happen in the first few years for practical reasons. But once we had built up a product, we could market it. More than profit making, through Lankan Premier League what we intended was creating a competitive environment and raise the standards of domestic cricket,” a source from SLC told Cricbuzz.

The league had been in doubt since the Sri Lanka government handed over SLC’s administration to the Competent Authority following the expiration of former SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala’s elected term.

Sumathipala had received the support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The Lankan board was also hopeful about drafting in the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Yusuf Pathan although BCCI doesn’t allow its players to play in foreign T20 leagues.

According to reports, the current situation in SLC is certainly not appropriate for the six-team tournament to be held before the board elections and hence it will be shifted to next year.