PCB announces one year ban for Dasun Shanaka’s participation in PSL

[The Bald Eagle]

PCB Announces One Year Ban for Dasun Shanaka’s Participation in PSL

Karachi, 20 April 2026:

Following a comprehensive review of the recent contractual developments involving Dasun Shanaka and the Lahore Qalandars, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued its final determination regarding the player’s eligibility for future editions of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The review concluded that the player’s unilateral withdrawal from the tournament on March 21, 2026, 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.

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.

Effective immediately, Dasun Shanaka has been declared ineligible to participate in the next edition of the Pakistan Super League (HBL PSL 12), scheduled for 2027.

Dasun Shanaka said:

“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 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."

The PCB remains committed to upholding the professional standards and binding nature of its player contracts to ensure the continued success of the PSL brand.

 

[Major]

in b4 the rondu brigade

 

[The Bald Eagle]

@Devadwal @Josh (Greatest Pak fan from across the border), @Nikhil_cric any thoughts

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Why one year for him and two years for Muzarabani?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

“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."

 

[RidiculousMan]

Why one year for him and two years for Muzarabani?

All colored people are not the same.

 

[Josh]

Good on PCB to punish a friendly board player as well. But still he got one year less than Muzarabbani who hadn't even got the contract. They need to reduce his punishment. It's unfair as PCB organizes PSL at the same time as IPL and its the IPL where players want to go and perform in expectation of landing a multi-million deals in futures if they perform well.

Surely Muzarabbani wouldn't skip PSL, if it was not clashing with IPL.

 

[Devadwal]

@Devadwal @Josh (Greatest Pak fan from across the border), @Nikhil_cric any thoughts

Player's won't mind if PSL banned all the overseas players

 

[Nikhil_cric]

@Devadwal @Josh (Greatest Pak fan from across the border), @Nikhil_cric any thoughts

Not sure how it will benefit PSL. Already the standard of overseas players is not particularly good - Sams, Rossuouw, Marnus etc.

This was going to happen when PSL decided to use the IPL window.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

All colored people are not the same.

Muzarabani's agent claims that he didn't even sign a contract which makes their punishment all the more questionable.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

should have been 2 years for both muzarabani and shanaka. shanaka is already 35, a two year ban would almost certainly drive him out of psl as a player forever.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Not sure how it will benefit PSL. Already the standard of overseas players is not particularly good - Sams, Rossuouw, Marnus etc.

This was going to happen when PSL decided to use the IPL window.

sams is good. rossouw is well past his prime.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Shanaka for the most part of his career has been a thoroughly mediocre cricketer. Besides a handful of good knocks like against India in T20 Asia Cup and Pakistan in T20 World Cup (couldn't even win that game), he has been another poster-boy for mediocrity in one of Sri Lanka cricket's worst eras that has seemingly been going on for a decade now. The only reason he is still playing for Sri Lanka is because of the dearth of talent on the island at this point of time.

You are not missing out on much by banning him from the league. But when you ban him for 1 year and ban a Zimbabwean player for 2 years - whose agent claims that he didn't even sign a contract - then it sends a very negative signal... that rules are not equal for all players

 

[Cric1234]

Player's won't mind if PSL banned all the overseas players

Stop trolling if you were a cricketer from India and allowed to play in PSL and got a 1 crore contract you would be running to Lahore saying mera jackpot lag gaya.

 

[Sanzcool]

PCB digging its own grave by banning players. They should realize BCCI have T20 monopoly all over the world, getting an IPL contract would/could mean that they can also get a contract in another T20 league with a good paycheck. PCB can fine players 10 or 20 percent of their next paycheck in PSL rather than banning players, or give salaries similar to IPL and then decide to ban players

 

[Devadwal]

Stop trolling if you were a cricketer from India and allowed to play in PSL and got a 1 crore contract you would be running to Lahore saying mera jackpot lag gaya.

Dasun Shanaka's PSL deal: USD 27,000
Dasun Shanaka's IPL deal: USD 214,000

PCB can ban all overseas player's and there are too Many league where players can earn money besides the IPL.

No one need PSL .

 

[Hitman]

Stop trolling if you were a cricketer from India and allowed to play in PSL and got a 1 crore contract you would be running to Lahore saying mera jackpot lag gaya.

If I were a cricketer from India, I won't need a 1 crore contract from PSL because I'd earn way more than that without the PSL contract.​

 

[BouncerGuy]

Justified. If Muzarabani was banned for the same reason, Shanaka should have been banned too so PCB took the right step...

 

[Nikhil_cric]

sams is good. rossouw is well past his prime.

Sams is decent in Australian conditions and his best was also around 3 years ago.

Doesn't get picked up by IPL, SA20, The Hundred anymore

 

[Vikram1989]

Sams is decent in Australian conditions and his best was also around 3 years ago.

Doesn't get picked up by IPL, SA20, The Hundred anymore

Has he done anything meaningful in ipl?I don’t recollect for which team he played too

 

[sithb]

Easiest solution to get foriegn players is to not schedule the league during IPL. Ensure the league is in advanced stage by the time the opening games of IPL begin. That way, You might get better foreign players as it's simply a matter of finishing the PSL and then heading to the IPL , even if one or two matches are missed, it won't matter too much

 

[sithb]

Has he done anything meaningful in ipl?I don’t recollect for which team he played too

Played for MI and RCB i think. Didn't really do much.

 

[sithb]

If I were a cricketer from India, I won't need a 1 crore contract from PSL because I'd earn way more than that without the PSL contract.

A Ranji cricketer who doesn't even get an IPL contract makes around 40-50L per year. That's more than equivalent to a 1Cr Pakistan contract in PSL going as per the exchange rates. And if he does get an IPL contract, then he gets more. Both in match day fees as well as his contract fee.

 

[Varun]

A Ranji cricketer who doesn't even get an IPL contract makes around 40-50L per year. That's more than equivalent to a 1Cr Pakistan contract in PSL going as per the exchange rates. And if he does get an IPL contract, then he gets more. Both in match day fees as well as his contract fee.

But isn't playing 4 day Ranji games harder work than T20 PSL matches?

 

[sithb]

But isn't playing 4 day Ranji games harder work than T20 PSL matches?

i take it you mean IPL. Probably more hard work needed. But there are still SMAT20 tournaments, Duleep Trophy matches etc as well(With seperate match fees etc). Not to mention state premier league tournaments. They need to put in that work there to get them to be noticed in the IPL. That probably gets them enough money even when they aren't capable enough to make the IPL.

No rising Indian cricketer will look at playing in PSL or any other leagues even if it means earning 33 Lakhs (Going as per the current market rate) in a month. The payout needs to be much higher. Maybe if they get equivalent of 1Cr INR and the Cricketer is nearing the end of his career.

 

[sithb]

Vijay Shankar got 18 Lakhs for playing in the TNPL. That's like 56L in Pak rupees. He's not being picked for any IPL team now.