Lahore: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been dealt a double blow as two foreign cricketers are set to dishonour contracts to join the Indian Premier League (IPL).
To add to its woes, matches of PSL 2026 will be played in front of empty stadiums amid ongoing security concerns and the country’s escalating fuel crisis triggered by the US-Iran war and tensions in Middle East.
Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani, who finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the recent T20 World Cup, has joined Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after leaving Pakistani franchise Islamabad United.
Now, allrounder Dasun Shanaka, who led Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup, is on his way to the Rajasthan Royals, snubbing Lahore Qalandars.
KKR offered Muzarabani a contract as replacement for Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who was withdrawn from IPL on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) instruction.
Rajasthan showed interest in Shanaka recently after Englishman Sam Curran was ruled out of IPL due to an injury.
The decisions of Muzarabani and Shanaka have left the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) fuming, with its chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirming on Sunday that ‘legal action’ against the cricketers who have dishonoured their PSL contracts to join the IPL.
“Yes, 2-3 have left and we are taking legal action on that. If you look at last year and this time, you’ll see how many Category A players we have attracted, players who never used to come before are now coming as well,” Naqvi said at a press conference.
South African allrounder Corbin Bosch had breached his contract with Peshawar Zalmi last year to join five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians. PCB banned him for one year from participating in the PSL.
This season’s PSL is clashing with IPL 2026. While the T20 league in Pakistan will kick off on March 26, the IPL will get underway on March 28.
“Clash with the IPL is not an issue because if players are going there, we’re getting excellent players coming here as well,” Naqvi said.
But the Pakistan board has had to restrict the PSL to just two cities, Lahore and Karachi, down from the original six. Further, no spectators would be allowed for the first few matches at least.
The drastic measure comes after Pakistan has already implemented restrictions on public movement, including school closures and work-from-home directives, to manage the fuel crisis.
“The Prime Minister requested all of Pakistan to restrict their movements because of the fuel crisis. We closed schools and instituted work from home and increased the number of Eid holidays. We don’t know how long this war will last,” Naqvi stated.
“Looking at all of this and after discussions with our security agencies, we decided that the PSL would continue as per the original schedule. But we can’t ask people to restrict their movements and then have 30,000 people in stadiums every day.”
“We decided that as long as this crisis is ongoing, we will not have crowds at matches. This was a difficult decision, but it needed to be made. The opening ceremony will also be cancelled,” Naqvi added.
