Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has terminated the Jaffna Kings franchise agreement in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) following serious allegations of integrity violations, financial failures, and a widening ownership crisis that threatened the stability of one of the tournament’s most prominent teams.
In an official statement issued on July 25, 2026, SLC confirmed that it had been informed by LPL Event Rights Partner Innovative Production Group FZ LLC (IPG) that the contractual right to terminate the Jaffna Kings Franchise Agreement had been exercised due to alleged breaches of anti-corruption and integrity provisions.
The decision comes amid a major controversy involving the franchise’s new ownership group, Sports Commune, which has become the centre of a match-fixing and fraud investigation. The crisis deepened after co-owner Manjot Kalra, a former India Under-19 cricketer, was arrested in Colombo by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports.
Kalra has been accused of attempting to bribe up to three Sri Lankan national players with more than LKR 9.5 million in an alleged attempt to influence match outcomes. A Sri Lankan court has remanded him in judicial custody, where he remains detained while investigations continue.
The franchise’s ownership structure suffered another major blow after fellow co-owner entrepreneur Mayank Goel reportedly became untraceable after arriving in Sri Lanka. His disappearance left the team’s operations in uncertainty and contributed to the collapse of the franchise’s financial management.
Sports Commune allegedly failed to meet key financial responsibilities, including the payment of player salaries, support staff wages, and sponsorship-related commitments. The financial breakdown reached a public flashpoint when Jaffna Kings players staged an on-field protest by covering sponsor logos with black tape, highlighting concerns over unpaid obligations.
Despite the termination of the franchise agreement, the Jaffna Kings team continues competing in the ongoing LPL season under the same name and with the existing squad. SLC and IPG have taken complete operational and financial control to ensure that the tournament continues without disruption.
Under the LPL Event Rights Agreement, IPG will assume responsibility for all remaining obligations connected to the franchise, including settling outstanding player payments and fulfilling contractual commitments. IPG and SLC have already intervened to clear approximately 90 percent of unpaid player contracts and secure team logistics for the remainder of the competition.
SLC has reiterated that the action reflects its commitment to protecting the credibility of the Lanka Premier League. The cricket governing body emphasized its strict zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and any behaviour that could damage the integrity of the sport.
The franchise crisis represents one of the most serious challenges faced by the LPL since its inception. With authorities continuing investigations and administrators taking emergency measures, the Jaffna Kings saga has become a major test of governance, transparency, and accountability in Sri Lankan cricket.