Three-time champions Lahore Qalandars have officially confirmed Sri Lankan spinner Dunit Vellalaghe as the replacement for Kudakesh Moti, who has ruled out of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) from March 26 to May 3.
Confirming the latest update, the franchise announced the development through a post on their official social media handle.
The West Indies left-arm spinner has decided to pull out of the T20 World Cup following a delay in his return home.
The West Indies team was stranded in Kolkata following its elimination on March 1, unable to secure commercial flights due to widespread airspace restrictions due to the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
Only in the last 48 hours have they been able to return to the Caribbean.
The Celtics have moved quickly to secure a similar replacement and are on the verge of finalizing a deal for the 23-year-old Sri Lankan.
Vellalake enjoyed a productive T20 World Cup with the ball, taking eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.22, more than half a run above Motty’s economy of the match. The left-arm orthodox spinner has also shown steady progress as a lower-middle-order batsman.
Moti is understood to be the only West Indian player from the tournament to be signed by a PSL franchise, despite travel disruptions affecting many teams following the World Cup.
South Africa’s players are also unable to return home until the weekend, although their World Cup squad did not feature any members in this year’s PSL.
Vellalake will join his T20I captain Dasun Shanaka at the Qalandars, the latter having been bought by the franchise in the draft.
Lahore Qalandars enter the tournament as defending champions, having won three of their last four titles, including a thrilling victory in last year’s final at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The 11th edition of PSL begins on March 26, with the Qalandars all set to take on new entrants Hyderabad Kingsmen in the opening match of the tournament at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Lahore Qalandars squad updated for PSL 11: Shaheen Shah Afridi (catch), Abdullah Shafiq, Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Naeem, Mustafizur Rahman, Haris Raoob, Usama Mir, Faqar Zaman, Ubaid Shah, Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Farooq, Dasun Shanaka, Pervez Hossain, D Wealth Asif Ali, D Wealth Asif Ali.
comments