Sri Lankan cricketer Dasun Shanaka issued a public apology for withdrawing from the Pakistan Super League to join the Indian Premier League. His statement came after the Pakistan board banned him from the 2027 season of the league citing breach of contract. The cricketer opted out of his contract with Lahore Qalandars to play for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian T20 league, after being signed up by the Royals as a replacement for the injured Sam Curran.
Shanaka issued an apology for hurting the sentiments of his fans and the franchise fans. He said, “The PSL is a prestigious tournament, and I fully understand the disappointment caused by my actions. To the loyal fans of Lahore Qalandars, I am truly sorry for letting you down.”
The Lankan all-rounder went on to clarify that when he opted out of the league, he didn’t have any intention of joining another league. “I must clarify that at the time I withdrew from the PSL I had no intention of joining any other tournament. I have the greatest respect for Pakistan fans and have always enjoyed my time in Pakistan. I hope to return to the PSL in future with renewed dedication and the trust of the fans.”
Dasun Shanaka not the only player banned by PCB for opting to play in IPL
Notably, Shanaka isn’t the only player who has been handed a ban from the Pakistan’s Cricket Board. Recently, Blessing Muzarbani was handed a two-year ban after the pacer made a switch to the IPL, after he joined the Kolkata Knight Riders. In their official statement, the board said that Muzarbani had disregarded his commitments despite agreeing to the terms and conditions required to join the league.
Notably, before moving to IPL, Blessing signed an agreement with Islamabad United for the 2026 season. The Zimbabwean cricketer initially went unsold at the PSL auction in February, but was later signed by United as a replacement for Shamar Joseph. However, after signing the contract, he went on to opt for KKR in the IPL as Mustafizur Rahman’s replacement.
