Shaheen Afridi's Lahore Qalandars Update PSL 2026 Squad After Shocking Withdrawal

Shaheen Afridi's Lahore Qalandars [Source: X.com]

Lahore Qalandars, led by Shaheen Afridi, have received an unexpected setback ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL 2026). The tournament is scheduled to begin on March 26, which means teams are currently preparing their final squads and strategies. 

In this situation, the franchise has been forced to make changes after a key overseas player decided to withdraw from the competition.

The Middle East conflict affects cricket

Meanwhile, international travel has faced serious disruptions in recent weeks. Rising tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have created problems in several regions. Due to this situation, parts of the Middle East introduced airspace restrictions. As a result, many international flights faced delays or cancellations.

These issues created problems for several cricket teams that participated in the recent T20 World Cup 2026. Many players were unable to travel immediately after the tournament ended. In addition, several squads faced delays while trying to leave India after the competition.

The West Indies team experienced the same issue. The side was eliminated from the T20 World Cup on March 1. After that, the team remained stuck in Kolkata for several days. Airspace closures across West Asia made travel difficult. Eventually, the players managed to secure commercial flights home only in the past couple of days.

Also Read: Forgotten Pakistan Star Breaks Rajasthan Royals Record In National T20 Cup

Gudakesh Motie withdraws from PSL

In the middle of these travel complications, West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie has decided to withdraw from the PSL 2026. The left-arm spinner had been signed by Lahore Qalandars for the upcoming season. However, he chose to pull out soon after returning home from India.

Notably, Gudakesh Motie played an important role for the West Indies during the recently completed T20 World Cup. 

Even though the team did not reach the semifinals, his bowling performances remained impressive throughout the tournament. He played seven innings and collected 10 wickets with an economy rate of 7.86. Despite his strong performances, he will not take part in PSL 2026.

Lahore Qalandars look to Dunith Wellalage as a replacement

Reports indicate that Lahore Qalandars have already identified a replacement. According to ESPNcricinfo, the franchise is close to signing Sri Lankan all-rounder Dunith Wellalage as a like-for-like replacement.

The 23-year-old cricketer performed well during the recent T20 World Cup. He picked up eight wickets in the tournament while maintaining an economy rate of 7.22. This rate is slightly better than Motie’s numbers in the same competition. 

In addition, Wellalage has shown steady improvement with the bat in the lower middle order. Therefore, he offers both bowling strength and extra batting depth for the team.

PSL 2026 tournament details

Meanwhile, the PSL 2026 is expected to be an exciting event. The tournament will feature a total of 44 matches. These games will take place across six venues in Pakistan from March 26 to May 3.

It is worth mentioning that PSL 11 now features eight teams. Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindi Pindiz are the two new franchises added after the latest PSL auction. The opening match of the tournament will take place in Lahore, where Lahore Qalandars will face Hyderabad Kingsmen on March 26.

Also Read: Massive Fight In Dhaka! Salman Agha Furious After Never-Seen-Before Runout