Shaheen Afridi pulls out of LPL 2026

COLOMBO: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has reportedly withdrawn from the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026, bringing an early end to a turbulent campaign that was overshadowed by an administrative mix-up and below-par performances.

According to media reports, the 26-year-old informed his franchise, Kandy Royals, that he was leaving the tournament for personal reasons. Neither Afridi nor the franchise has disclosed further details, while Kandy Royals are yet to announce a replacement.

Afridi’s departure comes just days after he was at the centre of an unusual selection controversy. Reports claimed he had initially been listed as the team’s Impact Player for a match against Colombo Capitals, but was unable to feature after an administrative error left his name off the official team sheet.

The mistake reportedly occurred after Kandy Royals elected to bat first, with team officials later informing Afridi that an analyst had accidentally omitted his name from the final squad submitted before the match.

The incident prompted the Pakistan pacer to raise the issue with an official from the tournament’s Anti-Corruption Unit, after which the matter was referred to the match referee for review.

Franchise officials and tournament organisers later apologised to Afridi for the error. Reports suggested the left-arm fast bowler had briefly considered leaving the competition immediately after the incident but decided to stay with the squad following the apology.

Despite remaining in the tournament, Afridi struggled to make his usual impact with the ball. He claimed seven wickets in six matches, averaging 32.00, while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.18, figures well below the standards expected from one of Pakistan’s premier fast bowlers.

Meanwhile, the LPL continues to see changes in team combinations, with two more Pakistani cricketers joining the competition as replacement signings.

Young batter Khawaja Nafay has been drafted by Jaffna Kings to replace Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran, while experienced all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has signed with Dambulla Sixers as a replacement for Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Shaheen’s reported withdrawal marks another twist in an eventful LPL campaign and is likely to spark further discussion about player management and tournament administration as the competition heads toward its decisive stages.