Dasun Shanaka, the captain of Sri Lanka, has been banned from the PSL for a year by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Shanaka joined the Rajasthan Royals IPL team after first being named in the Pakistan Super League.
Blessing Muzarabani was also suspended for two years by the PCB for the same reason, but according to his agent Rob Humphries, the player never signed a contract with a PSL team, thus the ban is unfair and ought to be reconsidered.
Following a thorough analysis of the recent contractual developments between Shanaka and Lahore Qalandars, the PCB declared on Monday that the player’s unilateral withdrawal from the tournament on March 21 constituted a blatant violation of both the tripartite agreement and the terms of player registration.
“The findings indicated that the withdrawal was made on grounds not recognized within the existing contractual framework,” the PCB said.
In the T20 World Cup this year, Shanaka captained Sri Lanka.
Shanaka expressed regret for his actions in a media release. “I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the HBL PSL and offer my sincere apologies to the people of Pakistan, the fans of HBL PSL, and the wider cricket community,” the release quoted him as saying.
“The HBL 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. I must clarify that at the time I withdrew from the HBL PSL I had no intention of joining any other tournament. I have the greatest respect for Pakistani Fans and have always enjoyed my time in Pakistan. I hope to return to the HBL PSL in the future with renewed dedication and the trust of the fans.”
