New ranking system for clubs comes into play from today

• New domestic season commences with Major Club and Tier B T20 tournaments
• SSC returns to Major Club cricket
• Fickle weather could prove a damper

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

A new domestic cricket season (2026-27) is set to commence today with a new ranking system in place for promotion and relegation of teams where clubs will be forced to field their best sides in the three formats; T20 50-over and 3-day league matches.

The practice prior to the introduction of this new system was that the clubs picked their best players for the 3-day league tournament which is first-class. After that players who have obtained contracts to play overseas in the leagues take off, leaving their clubs bereft of quality players for the other two formats – T20 and 50-over, as these two tournaments don’t come into consideration where promotion and relegation are determined.

In order to put an end to this happening in future, Sri Lanka Cricket’s Tournament Committee adopted a new formula that performances of the clubs in all three formats will be decided on percentage points to determine their final positions for promotion and relegation. This new concept was approved for five years at a Special Extraordinary General Meeting held in April.  

Around 24% has been decided for the T20 tournament, 25%

 for the 50-over tournament and 51% for the 3-day league tournament. For example the points gained by each team in the T20 tournament will be multiplied by 0.24. Similarly for the other two formats as well - 50-over (multiplied by 0.25) and 3-day league (multiplied by 0.51). The collective points from the three tournaments will determine the final rankings of the clubs from which the promotion and relegation will be determined. This system will apply to tournaments conducted in the Major Clubs and Tier B.

Therefore, it is imperative that all participating clubs in both categories (Major and Tier B) field their best eleven for all the matches if they are to win the title or avoid relegation.

The Major Club T20 kicks off with six matches played at three venues with each venue hosting two games one commencing at 9.45 am and the second at 2 pm. Defending champions CCC and runner-up Panadura SC have a free day, while SSC returns to the Major Club category after spending one season in Tier B.

• At P Sara Oval: Moors SC v Badureliya CC (9.45 am), SSC v NCC (2 pm)
• At CCC: BRC v Kurunegala YCC (9.45 am), Police SC v Colts (2 pm)
• At SSC: Nugegoda SWC v Tamil Union (9.45 am), Ace Capital CC v Bloomfield (2 pm)

The 14 teams participating in this tournament have been grouped in two of seven teams each. The top four teams from each group will qualify to play in the knockout stage from the quarter-finals onwards.

• GROUP A: CCC, Moors SC, BRC, Tamil Union, Nugegoda SWC, Kurunegala YCC, Badureliya CC
• GROUP B: Panadura SC, NCC, Colts, Bloomfield, Ace Capital CC, Police SC, SSC

The Tier B T20 comprising 12 clubs in two groups also commences today with a card of six matches at three venues.

• At Welisara: Ragama CC v Kurunegala SC (9.45 am), Army SC v Kandy Customs SC (2 pm)
• At Police: Chilaw Marians CC v Sebastianites (9.45 am), Leo CC v Negombo CC (2 pm)
• At BRC: Moratuwa SC v United Southern SC (9.45 am), Navy SC v Galle CC (2 pm)

The groupings:

• GROUP A: Ragama CC, Leo CC, United Southern SC, Moratuwa SC, Negombo CC, Kurunegala SC      
• GROUP B: Army SC, Chilaw Marians CC, Galle CC, Navy SC, Sebastianites, Kandy Customs SC

The top four teams from each group will qualify to play in the knockout stages starting from the quarter-finals. SSC and Colombo Malay CC, the two finalists of last year, don't feature on this occasion. SSC were promoted to the Major Club category while Colombo Malay CC was relegated to play in the Governor’s Cup.

However, the sudden change in the weather pattern with rain all around the countryside could prove a damper to the tournament and present a challenge to the clubs with the DLS rain rule coming into play.