The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has ruled that Sri Lankan cricketer Dasun Shanaka will not be eligible to participate in the 2027 edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 12) after determining that his abrupt departure from Lahore Qalandars ahead of PSL 11 constituted a breach of contract. In a formal statement, the PCB stated that Dasun Shanaka’s unilateral withdrawal on March 21, 2026, contravened both the Player Registration terms and the Tripartite Agreement. The board maintained that the reasons provided by the Sri Lankan all-rounder did not align with the contractual framework of the league. Consequently, Dasun Shanaka has been declared ineligible for PSL 12, effectively bringing an end to a controversy that began just days before the commencement of PSL 11. Shanaka had been signed by Lahore Qalandars in the PSL 11 auction on February 11 for Rs. 75 lakh after going unsold in the IPL auction. However, before the tournament began, he withdrew from the squad and later joined Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for the injured Sam Curran. Lahore Qalandars then brought in Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams as Shanaka’s replacement. The franchise confirmed the switch on March 22. Following a thorough review, the PCB concluded that Shanaka’s withdrawal constituted a clear contractual infraction, prompting the board to impose a one-year ban. In essence, he was penalized for having already committed to Lahore Qalandars for PSL 11 and then abandoning the team before the season to pursue an IPL opportunity. Shanaka subsequently issued an apology after the ruling, expressing deep regret for his decision and extending apologies to the people of Pakistan, PSL fans, and Lahore Qalandars supporters. He also stated that he had no intention of joining any other tournament at the time of his withdrawal and hoped to return to the PSL in the future with renewed commitment. Despite Shanaka’s apology, the PCB deemed disciplinary action necessary to safeguard the league’s contractual system and maintain the exclusivity of the competition. The Shanaka case has also garnered attention due to its similarity to a previous controversy involving Blessing Muzarabani. The Zimbabwe pacer was handed a two-year PSL ban earlier after leaving Islamabad United and joining Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. The PCB stated that Muzarabani had failed to honor agreed commitments and entered into a conflicting engagement while a prior binding agreement was in place. However, Muzarabani’s camp has disputed this version, with his agent describing the two-year ban as “incredibly excessive” and arguing that no formal contract had been sent to the player. According to the agent, the deal was only a verbal commitment subject to a No Objection Certificate, and since no official contract arrived, there was nothing to breach. The agent also claimed that the issue was an administrative error rather than misconduct by the player.
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