![Sri Lanka star joins Hyderabad franchise for PSL 2026 [Source: @OfficialSLC/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1774274763759_SriLanka.jpg?type=hq)
Sri Lanka star joins Hyderabad franchise for PSL 2026 [Source: @OfficialSLC/x]
Kusal Perera has joined the Hyderabad Kingsmen franchise for the upcoming PSL 2026 season. Unlike other Sri Lanka cricketers, Perera was reportedly not subjected to any fitness test by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
It is worth noting that the Kingsmen franchise roped in the 35-year-old back in February last month during the PSL 2026 auction. As of now, he is not being considered by national selection for Sri Lanka, thus making him available for the entire PSL tournament without any need of performing a fitness test.
Kusal Perera gets NOC, joins Hyderabad Kingsmen for PSL 2026
As per latest updates, Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Perera has received the No Objection Certificate (NoC) by the SLC in a bid to join the Hyderabad Kingsmen franchise for the PSL 2026 season. Moreover, the 35-year-old has even joined the Kingsmen setup in Pakistan, and the cricketer has reportedly made himself available for the entire tournament.
Notably, Perera did not have to perform any fitness test for Sri Lanka, as the board is not considering him for national selection for the time being. He was recently a part of Sri Lanka squad for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
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Earlier this month, the SLC instructed several Sri Lanka players to pass certain fitness tests before receiving their respective NOCs for their participation in the PSL 2026 and the IPL 2026 seasons. While the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana among others are required to undergo fitness tests, Kusal Perera escaped from the same owing to his current absence from Sri Lanka’s national plans.
Kusal Perera set for PSL return after prolific 2025 season
Kusal Perera was among the many cricketers who went under the hammer in the PSL 2026 auction in February. He was acquired by the Hyderabad Kingsmen, one of the two new franchises introduced to the tournament’s roaster this year, for a staggering sum of PKR 3.1 crores.
He will be joined by fellow Sri Lanka national Maheesh Theekshana in the Kingsmen squad, along with other overseas players like captain Marnus Labuschagne, Riley Meredith and Glenn Maxwell.
The upcoming season will mark Perera’s second appearance in PSL after making his tournament debut in 2025 for the Lahore Qalandars franchise. In four innings, the left-handed batter managed to aggregate 170 runs at a prolific average of 56.67 with two half-centuries.
PSL struggling to retain overseas talent
Even though Kusal Perera’s joining came as a huge news for the Hyderabad Kingsmen, the PCB is still struggling to retain its originally-intended overseas pool for the PSL 2026 season overall. While several players have opted out of the tournament in a bid to join IPL 2026, others are struggling with injury concerns.
Earlier this month, South Africa fast bowler Ottniel Baartman reportedly kicked aside his Hyderabad Kingsmen contract to join the CSK as a replacement for injured Nathan Ellis in IPL 2026. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka also moved to Rajasthan Royals as Sam Curran’s replacement despite signing up with the Lahore Qalandars.
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