After months of speculations, Sri Lanka Cricket has finally announced the date of the country's franchise-based league, the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The board has announced the start of the league on July 10, with the final match scheduled on August 5. Notably, this is the sixth season of the LPL. This season, the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground will host a few matches. SSC Ground happens to be the second ground from Colombo after R. Premadasa Stadium to host LPS matches alongside Pallekele and Dambulla. Earlier, the SSC Ground hosted a significant number of matches in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. They even hosted the opening fixture between Pakistan and the Netherlands of the tournament. The stadium, traditionally marked as a premium Test venue, underwent several architectural renovations, including the installation of floodlights enabling day/night matches. Delay in LPL Schedule Earlier it was expected that the tournament would be played last year from November 27 to December 23. Later it was decided that the tournament would start in early March after the T20 World Cup. SLC clarified the move, saying that they want ample time for the stadium to renovate. However, as per recent developments, it will be done in mid-July. Read also: IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans Pacer Kagiso Rabada Seen Smoking in Team Hotel Will they add new teams? Speculation had been growing about the possible inclusion of a sixth franchise in the upcoming season, but the absence of any formal confirmation suggests the tournament will continue with five teams for now. Reports from ESPNCricnfo also indicate that a few franchises could see a change in ownership ahead of the new edition, although officials are yet to make any public announcements regarding these developments. Despite the uncertainty around team structures, player participation is expected to remain strong. The registration window for overseas cricketers is scheduled to open on May 4, which is likely to draw interest from players across the globe. However, the league may face stiff competition in securing top talent, as it coincides with other prominent T20 competitions such as Major League Cricket, The Hundred, and Global T20 Canada. This scheduling clash could make player availability a key challenge.