PSL continues to lose players as Dasun Shanaka set to join IPL as injury replacement
India Today
IPL 2026: Dasun Shanaka is set to leave PSL side Lahore Qalandars to join Rajasthan Royals as Sam Curran's replacement. His move adds to the growing list of players choosing IPL over PSL.
The Pakistan Super League is increasingly struggling to hold on to overseas players as the Indian Premier League (IPL)'s financial and competitive pull continues to dominate the T20 landscape. The trend has surfaced again with Sri Lanka T20I captain Dasun Shanaka set to leave the PSL to join Rajasthan Royals in the IPL as an injury replacement.
According to a report from PTI, Shanaka is set to join Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for the injured Sam Curran for the IPL 2026 season. Curran, who had moved from Chennai Super Kings to Rajasthan Royals, is expected to miss the entire campaign due to a suspected groin injury.
The Sri Lankan all-rounder had gone unsold in the IPL mini-auction last December before signing with PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars. His imminent switch now underlines the growing trend of players opting for IPL stints even after committing to other leagues.
According to PTI, Shanaka’s signing is subject to the completion of formalities with the PSL, and he is likely to join the Royals squad in Guwahati soon. His arrival will help plug a crucial gap in the squad, especially given Curran’s expected role as a left-arm pacer and middle-order batter.
Under Shanaka’s leadership, Sri Lanka reached the Super Eight stage of the recent T20 World Cup. He scored 165 runs in the tournament, including a 31-ball 76 not out against Pakistan, while also picking up three wickets, highlighting his all-round credentials.
Shanaka’s move adds to a pattern that has begun to worry stakeholders in Pakistan cricket. Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has warned against overseas players leaving the PSL midway for IPL opportunities, cautioning that such a trend could severely impact the league’s future. He believes that while the IPL’s financial power is hard to compete with, repeated player exits risk diluting the PSL’s quality and overall appeal.
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