{
  "id": 9041008,
  "title": "First Class cricket trimmed to ten teams",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/first-class-cricket-trimmed-to-ten-teams",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T23:59:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/first-class-cricket-trimmed-to-ten-teams/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sri Lanka is set to significantly reform its first-class cricket structure, reducing the number of teams in the top tier from 14 to 10 over the next two years. This decision, announced by the Cricket Transformation Committee, aims to improve standards in domestic cricket and better prepare players for international competition. The committee's move is a response to long-standing criticism over the excessive number of teams, which diluted talent and made the transition from club cricket to the international game more challenging.\n\nBy concentrating the best players in fewer teams, the committee believes the overall quality of competition will improve. This restructuring will also see the top tier first-class tournament revert to a four-day format, a move intended to better prepare players for Test cricket, a game that currently lasts only three days. The longer matches are expected to encourage bowlers to demonstrate their ability to take 20 wickets, rather than fostering a hurried approach often seen in three-day games.\n\nIn addition to the structural changes, the committee is drafting a more structured domestic calendar with built-in rest periods to reduce injuries and player burnout. This comprehensive approach also includes the recruitment of an experienced National Curator, selected through an independent process led by former ICC Head Curator Andy Atkinson. Furthermore, curators at Sri Lanka's international venues have been integrated directly under the Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) umbrella to ensure consistent oversight.",
  "summary": "Sri Lanka’s bloated first class structure is set for a major overhaul, with the number of teams in the top tier to be trimmed from 14 to ten over the next two years as part of sweeping reforms aimed at raising standards in domestic cricket. The Cricket Transformation Committee announced the move yesterday as part […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}