Dasun Shanaka Chooses IPL Over PSL, Now Faces One-Year Ban From The League. Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has been banned from the next season of the Pakistan Super League. The decision came after he withdrew from his contract with Lahore Qalandars. He left the tournament to join Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.
Shanaka had signed with Lahore for PSL 2026. He later pulled out before the season started. Soon after, Rajasthan Royals signed him as a replacement player. He replaced England all-rounder Sam Curran, who was ruled out due to injury. The Pakistan Cricket Board reviewed the matter carefully. Officials said Shanaka broke his contract without valid reasons. The board called it a unilateral withdrawal. They added that it violated league and player agreement rules.
As punishment, Shanaka will not play in the next PSL season. This ban is part of PCB’s strict policy. The board wants players to respect their league commitments. They have warned players about consequences earlier as well. Reports say Shanaka has shown regret after the decision. He has apologised to fans and the Lahore franchise. However, the ban will remain in place for the next season.
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This is not the first such case. Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani also faced a ban recently. He received a two-year suspension for a similar issue. The PCB is taking strong action in such matters. The situation highlights growing clashes between T20 leagues. The IPL and PSL schedules now overlap. This creates tough choices for players worldwide. Managing league commitments is becoming more difficult each year.