Sri Lanka Cricket has evolved a player ranking system in future to enhancing domestic cricket to be on par with international cricket standards which the Chairman of the Tournament Committee, Nalin Aponso emphasised was vital to having the two going hand in hand towards optimising player standards in the international arena. This key decision had been arrived at following lengthy discussions by the executive committee headed by SLC President, Shammi Silva, he announced yesterday addressing the media on domestic cricket at the Singhalese Sports Club’s AC Pavilion.

The occasion held out a special significance spelling out the way forward of Sri Lanka’s domestic cricket and the 2025 team and player awards that followed the media briefing. It held out a synonymous upswing by a far reaching rehashed package the game’s governing body has set in motion to ensuring domestic cricket booms from the very grassroots level to upping its international standards.

Indeed, the air did carry an enrichment to the starry eyed award recipients of what the future holds out by Sri Lanka Cricket’s revamped cycle of the domestic gamut bound to be fired up by the adrenaline pumping Player Ranking system that has raised the bar to churning international super stars that would be a huge incentive to enhancing the game at that level. Going by Aponso’s announcement, certainly domestic cricket would take off in a new throttle.
Aponso did fire the blood when he said, “The main idea through the player ranking system is to optimise competitiveness in domestic cricket.”

The very salient question as to whether national players were impeded by a decline in mental aptitude and fitness was also a very pertinent question very salient question the Tournament Committee Chairman fielded when he responded that it was a key issue SLCs High Performance Center was currently going into following a decline in Sri Lanka’s recent international performances.

Aponso, flanked by a five-member SLC team driving local cricket comprising messrs Kasun Fernando, Secretary, Tournament Committee, Marlon Fernando, Member, Tournament Committee, Dilan Polonawita, Tournament Committee, and Chinthaka Edirimanne, Head of National Cricket Operations, dealt at length on the facelift to domestic cricket.

While observing that it was all satisfactory that 2025 had been the most competitive. No club had been able to gauge which would be the ultimate winner with Colts finally emerging champions. The set up envisaged upgrading the national super league system. Guidelines had been given to coaches.

Financially everything was on place with Rs. 45 million pumped for one tier for a club. A sum of Rs. 12 million had been allocated for coaches. Also. Improving umpiring standards was key.
Today, a player received about Rs.60,000 from a match while a match fee carried Rs 110,000.

Yesterday’s awards ceremony that followed saw Colts CC crowned 2025 Champions of the Major League 3 day Tournament.

Runners up were Ace Capital CC which was a praiseworthy achievement for a comparatively lesser known side

Most Valuable Player – Wanuja Sahan of Ace Capital 54 wickets, 4 5-wicket hauls, 484 runs from 10 matches.

Best Bowler – Dilum Sudeera Police SC 61 wickets from 10 matches.

Best Batsman – Lahiru Udara 908 runs, 3 centuries and a double century. Average 60.53 .

Tier B
Champions – Singhalese Sports Club

Runners up –
Negombo CC

Most Valuable Player
Shehada Soysa (Army SC) 641 runs, 21 wickets from 11 matches

Best Bowler
Dilantha Auwardt (Navy SC) 72 wkts

Best Batsman
Nipun Dhananjaya (SSC) 967 runs 11 matches

The awards were given away by messrs. Nalin Aponso, Chairman, Tournament Committee, Kasun Fernando, Secretary, Tournament Committee, Marlon Fernandopulle, Member Tournament Committee, Dilan Polonowita, Member Tournament Committee.

Best Bowler – Dilantha Auwardt Navy SC 72 wickets

Best Batsman – Nipun Dhananjaya 867 runs from 10 matches

Most Valuable Player
Shehada Soysa Navy SC
641 runs and 21 wickets from 11 matches