Since its beginning, the Lanka Premier League 2026 has been fraught with controversy. Shaheen Afridi, a Pakistani bowler, reportedly filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Unit after being benched during a match.
The scandal began even before the LPL 2026 began, when Manjot Kalra, a former co-owner of the Jaffna Kings, was arrested by Sri Lanka’s Special Investigation Unit on suspicion of match tampering.
Sri Lanka Cricket is now addressing the situation after the organisers took away the franchise’s ownership rights.
Shaheen Afridi is also facing charges from the Anti-Corruption Unit. Afridi and the Kandy Royals have reportedly had difficult relations, with the most recent episode raising concerns about potential infractions.
Afridi was reportedly about to return home after the event because he was so enraged. However, the event organisers and franchise representatives apologised to him and persuaded him to stay.
The Kandy Royals informed Shaheen Afridi ahead to their game against the Colombo Caps that he will play as an impact player, according to The Express Tribune.
The Royals batted first, but in the middle of the innings, the team’s coach apologised to Afridi, explaining that his name had not been entered as the designated impact player due to an analyst error.
Shaheen Afridi complains to the Anti-Corruption Unit regarding LPL.
Shaheen Afridi, who was taken aback by the last-minute development, was naturally irritated by the unprofessional behaviour that led to the event and swiftly reported it to the Anti-Corruption Unit.
The referee for the game was also informed of the matter. The act appears to have infuriated Afridi so much that he chose to return to Pakistan first.
For those who don’t know, the LPL adopted the Indian Premier League’s “impact player” rule, which restricts a player from playing the entire two innings for his side.
Rather, if he or she is a specialist bowler or hitter, he or she is called up as needed during the game to replace a player who is already in the starting lineup.
Afridi stayed in Sri Lanka after being persuaded by management.
Neither Afridi nor the franchise have made any further comments. According to the most recent information, the event organisers were able to persuade the Pakistani bowler to stay with the squad instead of returning home.
Shaheen Afridi has played three LPL 2026 matches so far, taking four wickets at a strike rate of 16.00 and an economy rate of 9.73. He has taken numerous wickets, but the Kandy Royals have also suffered as a result of his costly spells.
The squad is currently ranked last in the rankings, having won only one of its first four games.
For those who are unaware, Kandy quickly signed Shaheen Afridi to a special contract prior to the competition. The league began on July 17, after Afridi secured a No Objection Certificate from the Pakistan Cricket Board.
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