Dasun Shanaka has received a one-year ban from the Pakistan Super League after he withdrew from a contract to play for an IPL team.
The Sri Lankan all-rounder was originally signed by Lahore Qalandars for PKR 75 lakh for the 2026 season. He pulled out on March 21 and two days later joined the Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for Sam Curran due to injury.
“The review found that the player’s withdrawal from the tournament was a clear violation of the Player Registration terms and the Tripartite Agreement. The situation was deemed against the existing contract rules,” said the PCB in a statement on Monday.
“Although the Board acknowledged the player’s apologies and his passion for playing in Pakistan during the hearing, the serious nature of the violations required regulatory action to uphold the integrity of the League,” it added.
In response to the decision, Shanaka expressed regret and apologized to the fans of the Pakistani tournament. He expressed a wish to participate in the league again in the future.
“I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the PSL and sincerely apologize to the people of Pakistan, PSL fans, and the Cricket community. The PSL is an important tournament, and I understand the disappointment my actions have caused. To the loyal fans of Lahore Qalandars, I’m truly sorry for letting you down,” he stated.
“I want to clarify that at the time of my withdrawal from the PSL, I had no plans to join any other tournament. I respect Pakistani fans deeply and have always enjoyed my time in Pakistan. I hope to return to the PSL in the future with renewed commitment and the trust of the fans.”
Shanaka joins several other players who have been banned from the PSL for canceling contracts to pursue IPL opportunities. Recently, Blessing Muzarabani was in the news after his agency clarified that he had not signed a contract with Islamabad United, the team he was meant to replace. Muzarabani signed with Kolkata Knight Riders after pulling out, resulting in a two-year ban.