Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi reportedly came close to quitting the Lanka Premier League (LPL) after a selection mix-up left him out of Kandy Royals’ match against Colombo Capitals despite earlier assurances that he would play.
According to media reports, the franchise had informed Afridi before the game that he would feature as the team’s designated Impact Player, a tactical substitution option that allows a nominated player to replace another during the match and perform a full batting or bowling role.
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However, confusion emerged after Kandy Royals opted to bat first. During the innings, the team’s coach reportedly informed Afridi that his name had not been included on the official team sheet as the nominated Impact Player.
The omission was allegedly caused by an administrative error made by one of the team’s analysts while submitting the playing list before the match. As a result, Afridi was unable to take part in the contest despite being available for selection.
The unexpected development reportedly left the Pakistan pacer frustrated, with reports claiming he even considered leaving the tournament after the incident. The situation, however, was later addressed by the franchise, which is understood to have explained the circumstances behind the mistake.
The Impact Player rule, first introduced in the Indian Premier League (IPL), allows teams to make a tactical substitution during a match. The replacement player can bat, bowl a full quota of overs and contribute like any member of the playing XI, while the substituted player takes no further part in the game.
Afridi’s omission sparked widespread discussion among cricket fans, highlighting the importance of accurate team submissions in franchise tournaments. Neither the Lanka Premier League nor Kandy Royals had issued an official statement on the reported incident at the time of writing, while the left-arm fast bowler also had not publicly commented on the matter.
