Dasun Shanaka handed one-year PSL ban

Dasun Shanaka has received a one-year ban from participating in the Pakistan Super League following a review of his contract breach with the league and the Lahore Qalandars franchise, which had signed the Sri Lanka all-rounder for PKR 75 lakh to feature in the ongoing PSL 2026 season.

Shanaka, 34, withdrew from the tournament on March 21 this year and was signed a day later by the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League as a replacement player for Sam Curran.

"The review concluded that the player's unilateral withdrawal from the tournament constituted a clear breach of both the Player Registration terms and the Tripartite Agreement. The findings indicated that the withdrawal was made on grounds not recognized within the existing contractual framework," a PCB review stated. "While the Board has taken note of the player's expressions of regret and his stated passion for playing in Pakistan during the formal hearing, the severity of the contractual violations necessitates regulatory action to maintain the integrity and exclusivity of the League."

Shanaka, who captained Sri Lanka in the recent T20 World Cup, expressed regret for his actions in the same media release. "I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the HBL PSL and offer my sincere apologies to the people of Pakistan, the fans of HBL PSL, and the wider cricket community," the release quoted him as saying.

"The HBL PSL is a prestigious tournament, and I fully understand the disappointment caused by my actions. To the loyal fans of Lahore Qalandars, I am truly sorry for letting you down. I must clarify that at the time I withdrew from the HBL PSL I had no intention of joining any other tournament. I have the greatest respect for Pakistani Fans and have always enjoyed my time in Pakistan. I hope to return to the HBL PSL in the future with renewed dedication and the trust of the fans."

With the PSL operating in the same window as the IPL over the last couple of seasons, there has been a spike in the number of players defecting to the cash-rich Indian league when an opportunity has presented itself. Last year, Corbin Bosch spurned a Peshawar Zalmi gig to join the Mumbai Indians. This year, Blessing Muzarabani and Spencer Johnson also jumped ship from the PSL to the IPL, with the former receiving a from featuring in the PSL.