Dasun Shanaka Pulls Out of PSL 2026, Set to Replace Sam Curran in IPL

Sri Lanka cricketer Dasun Shanaka has decided to withdraw from PSL 11, according to reports. He joins other players who have also pulled out and are choosing to play in IPL 2026 instead. Earlier, Blessing Muzarabani (now signed with KKR) and West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie had pulled out of the PSL 11, while the former has been signed as Mustafizur Rahman’s replacement in KKR.

As per Cricbuzz, Dasun Shanaka has been signed as a replacement for injured Sam Curran in IPL 2026. Earlier, a NewsWire report said that Shanaka was in talks with IPL teams looking for injury replacements ahead of the season.

Dasun Shanaka withdraws from PSL to join IPL 2026 amid growing player shift trend

The report claims that the Sri Lankan all-rounder is being considered by Rajasthan Royals (RR) as a replacement for Sam Curran who has been ruled out of the tournament due to a groin injury. Shanaka, who was a part of GT in 2023, went unsold in the IPL 2026 mini-auction after registering for a base price of Rs 75 lakhs. He was supposed to play for Lahore Qalandars after bagging a contract of Rs 75 lakh but has pulled out and instead has opted to play in IPL 2026 instead.

It has become a trend for overseas players to skip the Pakistan Super League and choose the Indian Premier League instead, mainly because of higher salaries. Last week, the Pakistan Cricket Board decided to take legal action against Blessing Muzarabani after he pulled out of the league despite signing a contract with Islamabad United.

Gudakesh Motie was the only West Indies player stuck in India, and he had also secured a PSL deal after being picked by Lahore Qalandars for PKR 1.10 crore in the league’s first-ever auction.

He too has pulled out, with the reason not specified. Last year, South Africa’s Corbin Bosch had also pulled out of the PSL to take part in IPL 2025 as a part of Mumbai Indians (MI).