Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said that the board will take strict action against players who pull out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the last moment to join the Indian Premier League (IPL). This issue has come up for the second year in a row, as both leagues are happening around the same time.
Dasun Shanaka withdraw from PSL for IPL
Recently, Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka withdrew from the Lahore Qalandars to join the Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for the injured player Sam Curran. Shanaka has played in the IPL before, including a short stint with the Gujarat Titans in 2023.
He is not the only one to make such a move recently. Blessing Muzarabani also left his PSL team, Islamabad United, after getting an opportunity to join the Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, who was released earlier following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Naqvi's warning for players leaving PSL for IPL
Speaking about the situation, Naqvi said the PCB will follow its rules and take action against players who break their commitments. He pointed out that a similar case last year led to a ban, and the same approach will be followed again if needed.
He also said that the clash with the IPL is not a problem for the PSL. According to him, while some players are going to the IPL, the PSL is also attracting good-quality players. He added that postponing the league was not an option because there is no other suitable time slot available in the cricket calendar.
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"We will take action against those players according to the rules. There was a case last year, too [Corbin Bosch, who was banned from the PSL for one year], and the same thing will happen this time. Clashing with the IPL is not an issue because if players are going there, we're getting excellent players coming here as well. We could not afford to postpone the PSL because we have no other window all year," Naqvi said as per ESPNcricinfo.
Players who left PSL for IPL
In the past, players like Corbin Bosch faced a ban after leaving a PSL team late to join the IPL. Other players such as Gudakesh Motie, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ottneil Baartman, and Spencer Johnson have also withdrawn from the tournament, mostly citing personal reasons.
The PSL 2026 season is scheduled to begin on March 26, just two days before the IPL starts.