Pakistan T20I captain Shaheen Afridi remained with Kandy Royals after league officials apologised for an administrative error that wrongly excluded him from the playing XI.
WEB DESK: Pakistan T20I captain Shaheen Afridi filed a complaint with the Lanka Premier League’s (LPL) Anti-Corruption Unit after an administrative error prevented him from playing for Kandy Royals in their match against Colombo Capitals.
According to reports, Kandy Royals management informed the left-arm fast bowler before the match that he would be used as an “impact player,” allowing him to enter the game during play. However, shortly after the match began, officials told Shaheen that his name had been omitted from the final team sheet because of an analyst’s mistake, making him ineligible to participate.
The unexpected development prompted Shaheen to report the matter to an Anti-Corruption Unit official. The incident was also brought before the match referee as questions emerged over how the error occurred.
Frustrated by the situation, the Pakistani pacer initially decided to return home. However, LPL officials and Kandy Royals management later apologised, explaining that the wrong team sheet had mistakenly been submitted to the match referee. After receiving assurances from league organisers, Shaheen agreed to continue his participation in the tournament.
The incident has drawn additional attention to the Lanka Premier League, which is already facing scrutiny following the arrest of Jaffna Kings owner Manjot Karla by Sri Lanka’s Special Investigation Unit over alleged match-fixing concerns. Following the arrest, the franchise’s ownership rights were revoked, with Sri Lanka Cricket and the tournament organisers assuming control of the team.
Despite missing the latest fixture, Shaheen has delivered steady performances for Kandy Royals in the tournament. He claimed one wicket for 41 runs in his opening match, followed by figures of two for 34 and one for 32 in his next two appearances.
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