In what can only be described as a seismic shock to Sri Lankan cricket, Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) – the country’s most prestigious cricket-playing institution – has been relegated to Division 2 after a forgettable season. The powerhouse of domestic cricket, often dubbed the cradle of Sri Lankan cricket, finds itself in the unfamiliar and humiliating position of playing outside the top tier for at least two years.
While Bloomfield and NCC booked their places in the four-day First-Class final at the R. Premadasa Stadium starting on Wednesday, the headline-grabbing story was SSC’s stunning relegation – a fall from grace that few saw coming.
SSC finished eighth in Group ‘B’, joining Kandy Customs in the drop zone, while Ragama Cricket Club and Negombo Cricket Club were axed from Group ‘A’. These teams will now have to bide their time until 2027 for a shot at redemption.
For years, Sri Lanka’s First-Class structure had become bloated, with 26 teams in the mix. The cricket board has been gradually trimming the fat, with four teams getting the chop this season and two more set for the drop next year, reducing the elite competition to a more manageable 12 teams.
SSC’s relegation has sent tremors through the local cricket fraternity. This is no ordinary club – this is the breeding ground of Sri Lankan cricketing royalty, having shaped legends from Arjuna Ranatunga to Mahela Jayawardene. Even their current squad was brimming with Sri Lanka’s top-tier cricketers, including Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Kasun Rajitha and Prabath Jayasuriya just to name a few. Yet, despite their star power, they failed to fire, managing just one outright win all season – a performance unbecoming of a club of SSC’s stature.
At the end of the day, we have to take responsibility rather than offering excuses. Now we are duty-bound to fight our way back into the top division. The good thing is that all the players have agreed to stay on and help us reclaim our rightful place.
SSC could blame their woes on a cocktail of bad luck and poor planning. Several early games were ruined by inclement weather, while injuries to key bowlers left their attack toothless. Compounding their troubles, some of their marquee players were missing in action, tied up with international commitments.
Adding to their misery was the club’s decision to release players for franchise T20 tournaments overseas. By the time they realized the writing was on the wall and recalled their players from Dubai, the damage had been done – the horse had bolted. The urgency came too late, and SSC’s ship was already sinking.
For a club that prides itself on its unparalleled bench strength, this relegation is nothing short of catastrophic failure. Even without their biggest names, SSC should have had enough firepower to hold their ground. Instead, they failed to stem the tide and paid the ultimate price.
With their First-Class status gone, the club now faces a battle on two fronts: clawing their way back into the elite ranks and retaining their star players. The challenge ahead is daunting – how do you convince the best players to stay when there’s no top-tier cricket on offer?
SSC boasts the best facilities among Sri Lankan clubs and remains the most coveted destination for cricketers. They are, after all, the most decorated club in First-Class history, having even shared the title with Sri Lanka Police last season. But reputations count for little when you’re playing in Division 2.
