Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has removed the controversial social media follower requirement for Icon and Star category players in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) Season 6 Player Registration and Draft Guide following backlash on social media and criticism from 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 requirement that players in the Icon and Star categories possess social media followings exceeding 250,000 followers.

The previous Version 1.4 document released on May 8 had stated that Icon and Star category players must have “a large fan base and commercial appeal,” with a social media following exceeding 250K, while Gold category players were required to have over 150K followers.

The revised document has removed all references to minimum social media follower counts across player categories, while retaining the cricketing eligibility requirements such as T20 international appearances, franchise experience, and recent match activity.

Many had questioned the move, pointing to the irony of Sri Lanka Cricket previously urging national players to stay away from excessive social media use and focus on cricket, while the LPL regulations appeared to reward players based on online popularity and follower counts.

The move sparked debate online, with critics arguing that cricketing ability rather than social media influence should determine player categories in Sri Lanka’s premier T20 tournament.

Despite the removal of the follower requirement, the updated regulations continue to place strong emphasis on player promotional obligations, including mandatory social media posts, fan engagement activities, and promotional appearances during the tournament.