Sri Lanka cricket team star Dasun Shanaka has become the latest player to pull out of Pakistan Super League (PSL 11), as per reports. The news about the all-rounder deciding to withdraw from the league comes amid other stars who have done so and are IPL 2026 bound. Earlier, Blessing Muzarabani (now signed with KKR) and West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie had pulled out of the PSL 11, while the former has been signed as Mustafizur Rahman’s replacement in KKR.
Another player pulls out of PSL 11
As per Cricbuzz, Shanaka has been signed as a replacement for an injured Sam Curran in IPL 2026.Earlier today, a NewsWire report quoted sources claiming that Shanaka is in discussions with IPL franchises who are looking for injury replacements ahead of IPL 2026. The report claims that the Sri Lankan all-rounder is being considered by Rajasthan Royals (RR) as a replacement for Sam Curran who has been ruled out of the tournament due to a groin injury. Shanaka, who was a part of GT in 2023, went unsold in the IPL 2026 mini-auction after registering for a base price of Rs 75 lakhs. He was supposed to play for Lahore Qalandars after bagging a contract of Rs 75 lakh but has pulled out and instead has opted to play in IPL 2026 instead.
“Yes, we have signed him,” a RR official said.
It has become a trend for overseas stars to pull out of PSL in order to take part in IPL, owing to the bigger salary package. Last week, the PCB decided to take legal action against Muzarabani for withdrawing from the league after securing a contract with Islamabad United. Meanwhile, Motie was the only member of the West Indies contingent stuck in India who’d landed himself a gig in the PSL after he was picked up by Lahore Qalandars for PKR 1.10 crore in the first-ever PSL auction. However, he too has pulled out, with the reason not specified. Last year, South Africa’s Corbin Bosch had also pulled out of the PSL to take part in IPL 2025 as a part of Mumbai Indians (MI).
