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New Delhi: Cricket is no longer just a game of bat and ball. The Lanka Premier League (LPL) has implemented such a rule before its sixth season that the player’s value will now be decided not by form but by followers. One will not be able to reach the top category just by playing well. The power and commercial appeal of social media has become equally important.

2.5 lakh followers are required to become an icon 

According to the new rules of LPL, to come in the ‘Icon’ category, it is necessary for a foreign player to play 75 T20 International and more than 100 franchise T20 matches. Also, 30 matches should have been played in the last 18 months. But the real condition is this: The player should have more than 2.5 lakh followers on social media. No matter how big a name is, it cannot become an icon without so many followers.

Followers’ game in Star and Gold categories also 

Not just icons, 2.5 lakh followers has also been made mandatory for the ‘Star’ category. To make a place in the ‘Gold’ category, one will have to play 30 T20 Internationals, 75 franchise matches and 20 matches in the last 18 months.

Along with this, at least 1.5 lakh social media followers are also required. Even in the ‘classic’ category, cricket records alone will not suffice. It is clearly written in the rules that the player must have ‘appropriate fan base and commercial appeal’. Meaning now your online popularity will decide your pocket.

The league itself is weak on social media   

This decision of LPL has sparked debate on social media. Many fans and experts are saying that the league is focusing more on marketing than cricket. The interesting thing is that the social media accounts of LPL itself are not active after 2024. The league also has less than 1 lakh followers on Instagram. That means the league is asking for 2.5 lakh followers from others, but its own base is weak.

New salary structure of season 6   

It is worth noting that LPL has also fixed the new salary for the sixth season. Icon and star players will get $60,000 to $80,000. Platinum category will get 50 thousand dollars, Gold will get 30 thousand dollars and Classic players will get 20 thousand dollars. Now it has to be seen whether other leagues also follow this trend or cricket will again remain only a game of performance.