Shaheen Afridi Threatens To Leave Sri Lanka After Impact Player Goof-Up In LPL

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi has reportedly lodged a complaint with the Lanka Premier League (LPL)’s Anti-Corruption Unit after an unusual incident saw him left out of a match despite being told he would feature as an ‘impact player’.

According to multiple reports, the Pakistan T20I captain was informed by Kandy Royals’ team management before their match against Colombo Capitals that he would be used as an impact player– the same rule used in the IPL, which the Sri Lankan league adopted from 2026.

However, during the game, the coach apologised to Afridi and said his name had not been included in the impact-player list due to an analyst’s error. The incident left the fast bowler upset, with Afridi informing an Anti-Corruption Unit official and deciding

to return to Pakistan.

The matter was subsequently brought to the attention of the match referee, after which the team management and league organisers apologised and convinced him to remain in Sri Lanka. The LPL later said the incident was caused by the submission of an incorrect team sheet to the match referee.

Afridi took 1/41 in Kandy Royals’ opening match, followed by 2/34 and 1/32 in his next two appearances.

Anti-corruption the main topic in LPL this year

The controversy comes amid wider turmoil surrounding the tournament. Before the start of the LPL, Jaffna Kings owner Manjot Karla, a former India under-19 cricketer, was arrested by Sri Lanka’s Special Investigation Unit over alleged match-fixing links. The team’s ownership rights were subsequently revoked, leaving the organisers and Sri Lanka Cricket to manage the situation.

According to local media reports, investigators alleged that Kalra approached Jaffna Kings players Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dunith Wellalage and Avishka Fernando, offering more than USD 30,000 to influence match outcomes. The players reportedly informed Sri Lanka’s Special Investigations Unit, which then instructed them to negotiate a payment.

Kalra and another man were arrested after the latter allegedly arrived at a pre-arranged location with an advance payment.