Mohsin Naqvi Gudakesh Motie Jay Shah. Image Credits: AFP
In a significant development, West Indies left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie is expected to withdraw from the 2026 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Notably, he had earlier been signed by the franchise Lahore Qalandars for the upcoming tournament.
It is important to note that the development came shortly after the player managed to return home from India. The West Indies team had been eliminated from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on March 1. After the elimination, several players, including Gudakesh Motie, remained stranded in Kolkata due to the West Asia crisis. Eventually, they were able to travel back home.
Lahore Qalandars looking for replacement
According to reports from ESPNcricinfo, Lahore Qalandars have already started working on a replacement. The franchise is currently in the final stages of signing Sri Lankan cricketer Dunith Wellalage to take Motie’s place in the squad for PSL 2026.
It is also important to note that Gudakesh Motie was the only player from the West Indies squad of the T20 World Cup who had been picked for PSL 2026 before deciding to pull out of the tournament.
Rumours linking Gudakesh Motie to IPL
Recently, several online reports and social media discussions have suggested that Gudakesh Motie might be leaving the PSL to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Situations like this have happened before. Many international cricketers sometimes prefer the IPL over the PSL when both tournaments take place during the same period.
For example, Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani was reported to have withdrawn from the PSL at the last moment and chosen to participate in the IPL instead. Similar situations have created discussion among fans regarding players switching leagues.
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Notably, this situation also resembles what happened last year. South African pacer Corbin Bosch had initially been signed by Peshawar Zalmi as a Diamond Pick in the PSL draft. Later, he joined Mumbai Indians in the IPL as an injury replacement.
Fact Check: Is Gudakesh Motie joining LSG?
Another claim circulating on social media suggests that Motie might join Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a replacement for Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga.
Notably, reports state that Hasaranga suffered a serious injury during Sri Lanka’s opening match against Ireland in Colombo during the T20 World Cup. The 28-year-old reportedly sustained a severe tear in his left hamstring during that match.
Due to the injury, Hasaranga was ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup. Moreover, his recovery timeline remains uncertain. As a result, there is speculation that he could miss the IPL season as well. This situation has led to online discussions suggesting that Motie could replace him in the Lucknow squad.
At present, there is no official confirmation that Motie has joined LSG or any IPL team. Neither the player nor the franchise has released a statement regarding such a move. Therefore, the claim that Motie left the PSL specifically to play in the IPL appears to be based only on social media speculation.
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