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Shaheen Shah Afridi has been granted a No Objection Certificate by the Pakistan Cricket Board to play in the 2026 Lanka Premier League, and he will represent Kandy Royals. It will be his first appearance in the tournament. Kandy Royals open their campaign against Dambulla Sixers on July 18, one day after the LPL itself begins on July 17.
The move comes because Shaheen has no red ball cricket to play right now. He was left out of Pakistan’s Test squads for the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England, part of a wider overhaul of the pace attack after Pakistan lost a Test series 2 0 to Bangladesh earlier this year. Hasan Ali and the veteran spinner Noman Ali were dropped in the same reshuffle. Pakistan currently sit bottom of the World Test Championship standings with one win from four matches, and the selectors have made clear they want a new look bowling unit for the away tours.
With the Test calendar closed to him for now, the PCB has cleared Shaheen to stay busy in franchise cricket instead. He was training with Pakistan’s white ball squad in Lahore when the NOC came through, and he is set to travel to Sri Lanka to join his new team ahead of the tournament.
How the Shaheen Afridi Kandy Royals Deal Was Announced
Sri Lanka Cricket teased the signing before it was confirmed, posting a video of a left arm fast bowler whose run up and action closely resembled Shaheen’s. The LPL then confirmed his arrival directly, captioning their announcement post “The big one has arrived. Shaheen Shah Afridi is coming to LPL 2026 with the Kandy Royals. Pace warning: activated.”
Where Shaheen Stands In White Ball Cricket
Test cricket is the one format currently off limits, but Shaheen remains central to Pakistan’s white ball plans. He recently led the side to an ODI series win over Australia, finishing as joint highest wicket taker in that series with 7 wickets at an average of 12.14, sharing the honour with left arm spinner Arafat Minhas, who made his ODI debut in the same series.
His most recent franchise stint was less smooth. Playing for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League, Shaheen managed just 2 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 76.50 before a knee cartilage injury ended his campaign early. His pace has been a talking point since an earlier knee injury interrupted his career in 2022, with his speeds dropping into the high 120s and low 130s at times rather than the 140 plus kph he was once known for.
Across his T20 career, Shaheen has taken 362 wickets at an average of 20.99 and an economy rate of 7.97. In the Pakistan Super League specifically, he has 138 wickets from 94 matches at an economy of 7.96, and he has captained Lahore Qalandars to three PSL titles.
Kandy Royals Squad for LPL 2026
Shaheen joins a Kandy Royals squad that already includes Wanindu Hasaranga, Moeen Ali and Angelo Mathews, giving the franchise a strong mix of experience and white ball pedigree heading into the new season.
He is not the only Pakistan international in this year’s LPL. Mohammad Nawaz was picked up by Galle Gallants in the Platinum Overseas category, Colombo Kaps signed Mohammad Haris and Shahnawaz Dahani in the Gold category, and Dambulla Sixers added Mohammad Wasim Jr in the Gold category to join Sahibzada Farhan, who was retained as the franchise’s Overseas Icon.
LPL 2026 Details
The sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League runs from July 17 to August 8, with five teams competing this season: Jaffna Kings, Colombo Kaps, Kandy Royals, Galle Gallants and Dambulla Sixers. The tournament opener is a rematch of the 2024 final, with defending champions Jaffna Kings facing Galle Gallants, before Kandy Royals begin their own campaign against Dambulla Sixers a day later.
Also Read- Vijay Shankar Joins Kandy Royals For LPL 2026, Days After Retiring From Indian Cricket
Q. Who has Shaheen Afridi signed with for LPL 2026?
A. The Shaheen Afridi Kandy Royals move is confirmed: he has signed with Kandy Royals for the 2026 Lanka Premier League, marking his first appearance in the tournament.
Q. Why was Shaheen Afridi left out of Pakistan’s Test squad?
A. Shaheen was dropped from Pakistan’s Test squads for the West Indies and England tours as part of a bowling attack overhaul following a 2 0 Test series defeat to Bangladesh. Hasan Ali and Noman Ali were also left out in the same reshuffle.
Q. When does Kandy Royals play their first match in LPL 2026?
A. Kandy Royals open their campaign against Dambulla Sixers on July 18, the day after the tournament begins on July 17.
Q. How did Shaheen Afridi perform in the Big Bash League?
A. Shaheen took 2 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 76.50 for Brisbane Heat before a knee cartilage injury ended his campaign early.
Q. Which other Pakistan players are featuring in LPL 2026?
A. Mohammad Nawaz signed with Galle Gallants, Mohammad Haris and Shahnawaz Dahani joined Colombo Kaps, and Mohammad Wasim Jr signed with Dambulla Sixers alongside Sahibzada Farhan.