In a move that has left the cricketing world scratching its head, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has unveiled the player qualification criteria for the 2026 Lanka Premier League (LPL) draft—and it includes a social media requirement that is turning heads for all the wrong reasons.

To be eligible for the top-tier "Icon" or "Star" player categories, overseas cricketers must now boast a social media following of at least 250,000. This unprecedented rule applies alongside traditional cricketing benchmarks, such as having played 75 T20 internationals (for Icons) or 50 T20Is (for Stars), plus over 100 franchise T20 matches and at least 30 games in the past 18 months.

The "Gold" category sets the follower bar slightly lower at 150,000, while the "Classic" and "Associate Stars" categories mention "fan base and commercial appeal" as requirements but stop short of specifying a number. Notably, the "Local Emerging U23" category—reserved for Sri Lankan players born after July 1, 2003—has no social media clause at all.

This quirky twist arrives as the LPL gears up for its sixth season, scheduled to run from July 10 to August 5 across four venues. The overseas player registration portal opened on May 8 and will remain accessible through the official SLC website until May 18.

For fans and players alike, the rule raises an intriguing question: in a league built on cricketing talent, is a massive online following now just as important as runs and wickets? As the draft approaches, all eyes will be on which big-name stars—both on the pitch and on the feed—make the cut.