Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed the commencement of a Women's National Super League (NSL) for both white-ball formats this month. The 50-over competition is scheduled to begin on February 6 in Colombo, followed by the T20 competition. Mirroring the Men's NSL introduced in 2022, the women's tournament will feature four teams: Colombo, Kandy, Dambulla, and Galle, with a total of 60 players participating. This initiative is seen as a significant step for women's cricket in the country, providing a platform for domestic competition.
According to a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) media release, participating and excelling in the Women's National Super League will serve as a pathway for players to advance to national representation. Both the 50-over and T20 tournaments will be held consecutively in Colombo, with each team facing off against the others before the finals. The 50-over final is scheduled for February 12, followed by the T20 tournament commencing on February 15 and concluding with the final on February 20.
“The 50 over tournament, which will start on February 6, is a major elevation for women’s cricket in the country, as they get to compete in the country’s Elite Domestic Competition. The tournament will see four teams competing, namely Colombo, Kandy, Dambulla and Galle. Competing and performing well in the Women’s National Super League will enable players to graduate to national recognition. 60 players will be in action during the competition, which will be played in Colombo,” reads an SLC media release statement.
Significant Milestone for Women's Cricket in Sri Lanka
This development marks a significant boost for women's cricket in Sri Lanka, especially considering the challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, where the national women's side did not participate in any international fixtures from March 2020 to November 2021.
However, subsequent to 2022 and 2023, there has been an increase in competitive tours, including series against India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand, and England. Notably, the women's team achieved historic milestones such as a home ODI series win against New Zealand and a T20I series victory against England.