Kusal Mendis leads new Sri Lanka Players' Cricket Association

The Sri Lanka Players' Cricket Association (SLPCA) was officially launched on August 8, 2026, to provide a formal voice for the nation's professional cricketers. Kusal Mendis, the men's white-ball captain, has been appointed as the inaugural president.

Affiliated with the World Cricketers' Association, the SLPCA represents a move toward international best practices in player representation. Unlike previous intermittent associations that were often dominated by retired players, the SLPCA is led by active captains and prominent players from both men's and women's teams. This structure places women's cricket on an equal footing within the union for the first time.

The association aims to address player welfare, rights, interests, contracts, and working conditions. This development occurs alongside ongoing governance reforms within Sri Lanka Cricket, which is currently being overseen by a government-appointed Transformation Committee.