COLOMBO: Two more Pakistani cricketers have signed contracts for the Lanka Premier League (LPL), while national team fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has withdrawn from the league due to personal reasons.
Young Pakistani batsman Khawaja Nafay has reached an agreement with the Jaffna Kings, joining the squad as a replacement for Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed will represent the Dambulla Sixers, joining the team as a replacement for Afghan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi.
On the other hand, Kandy Royals have confirmed that fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has pulled out of the Lanka Premier League.
According to a spokesperson for the LPL management, Shaheen Afridi decided not to participate in the league due to personal reasons.
Sources indicate that Shaheen Shah Afridi’s decision to withdraw from the Lanka Premier League (LPL) was likely due to his poor bowling form during the event.
This slump had resulted in a visible decline in his confidence. He was already under considerable pressure from having been dropped from the squads for the tours of the West Indies and England.
Reports further suggest that when Afridi was dropped from a match in the LPL due to his continuous poor performance, he became deeply upset and packed his bags to return to Pakistan.
However, his team management, officials from the Sri Lankan Cricket Board, and some former players intervened and persuaded him to stay.
Even after being given another chance, Afridi’s bowling remained exceptionally poor. He conceded an excessive number of runs without taking any wickets.
This led to persistent criticism on social media, making him fear that if this situation continued, a comeback to the national team would become extremely difficult. Consequently, he made the decision to leave the league midway and return home.
Ironically, despite this current dip in form, the Pakistan Cricket Board has given indications that it plans to entrust him with the captaincy of the national team for the 2027 World Cup.
