Kamal Ghorui
The Pakistan Cricket Board has taken strict action against Dasun Shanaka, handing the Sri Lanka captain a one-year ban from the Pakistan Super League after he withdrew from the tournament to join an IPL franchise. Shanaka had initially been signed in the PSL but later linked up with Rajasthan Royals for the ongoing Indian Premier League season as a replacement for Sam Curran. Following a review, the PCB ruled that his decision to pull out on March 21 amounted to a breach of contractual obligations. “The findings indicated that the withdrawal was made on grounds not recognized within the existing contractual framework,” the PCB said on Monday, referring to its investigation into the situation involving Shanaka and Lahore Qalandars. The board has also imposed a two-year ban on Blessing Muzarabani for a similar issue. However, his agent Rob Humphries has pushed back, arguing that the fast bowler never formally signed a PSL contract and that the punishment should be reconsidered. Shanaka, who captained Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup earlier this year, is among a growing list of players opting for IPL opportunities over PSL commitments. The scheduling overlap between the two leagues has intensified the trend, with players increasingly switching to the more lucrative Indian competition when chances arise. A similar situation unfolded last season when Corbin Bosch opted out of a stint with Peshawar Zalmi to join Mumbai Indians. This year, both Muzarabani and Spencer Johnson made the same move, leaving their PSL deals to feature in the IPL. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals have enjoyed a strong start to IPL 2026, sitting third on the table with four wins from six matches, eight points, and a net run rate of +0.599.
