Colombo, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka’s cricketing struggles on the international stage continue, as the team has now gone 10 years without securing an ICC trophy. Their disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup not only eliminated them from the tournament but also cost them a place in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, highlighting a decline in consistency and competitiveness at the highest level.
Sri Lanka has not featured in any major ICC event since the 2023 World Cup qualifiers, an event they had to play in order to secure a spot in the tournament. While Sri Lanka has a rich history in ICC events, winning the 1996 Cricket World Cup and the 2014 T20 World Cup, their absence from global tournaments in recent years has become a concern.
Despite being runner-up in multiple ICC events—the 2007 ODI World Cup, 2009 and 2012 T20 World Cups, and the 2011 ODI World Cup—Sri Lanka has struggled to replicate past glories in recent years.
A notable pattern in Sri Lanka’s previous ICC successes has been their dominance on spin-friendly pitches. Except for the 2009 T20 World Cup, where T.M. Dilshan’s remarkable batting performances carried them to the final, Sri Lanka’s major victories have been heavily dependent on their spinners.
However, this reliance on turning tracks has led to success mostly in home conditions, limiting their ability to compete on fast, bouncy wickets overseas. Without adapting to modern playing conditions, Sri Lanka’s chances of winning global tournaments remain bleak.
Sri Lanka’s struggles are not limited to on-field performance. Structural issues within the country’s domestic cricket setup have also contributed to the team’s decline. A bloated first-class system with too many teams has been a long-standing issue, leading to concerns over player development and competitiveness.
Adding to the worries, the recent relegation of SSC (Sinhalese Sports Club), one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most historic cricket clubs, to the second tier has raised alarms among former cricketers and administrators. SSC has been home to many of Sri Lanka’s cricketing greats, and its fall reflects the wider instability within the domestic circuit.
If Sri Lanka continues to rely solely on spin-friendly home conditions, their success may remain limited to bilateral series victories at home, rather than major ICC tournaments. Without major reforms in domestic cricket, a focus on building a strong core of all-format players, and the ability to adapt to global playing conditions, Sri Lanka risks falling further behind in international cricket.
As the team looks toward the next ICC cycle, urgent changes in team strategy, player development, and structural improvements will be crucial to reviving their former cricketing glory.
