Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka has decided to skip the 2026 Lanka Premier League (LPL) in order to focus on recovering from a long-standing injury following Sri Lanka’s upcoming tour of the West Indies.

Nissanka, currently Sri Lanka’s highest-ranked T20I batter, has been involved in continuous cricket over the past year, including commitments in international cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Although he was eligible for selection, Nissanka was not among the direct signings announced ahead of this year’s LPL. His management has now informed that the 28-year-old will not take part in the tournament and will instead use the period to undergo treatment and rehabilitation.

“Our priority is playing for Sri Lanka, so we have decided to use this period to ensure he recovers fully ahead of the important series against India and England,” Pathum Nissanka’s manager, Asanka Wijewardena, said.

The decision is aimed at ensuring the opener is fully fit for Sri Lanka’s upcoming international commitments later in the year.

Nissanka has been a key member of Sri Lanka’s batting lineup across formats and is regarded as one of the country’s most important players in white-ball cricket. (Newswire)

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