LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen have strengthened their squad ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, announcing the signing of Sri Lankan off-spinner Mahesh Dikshana on Wednesday night.
The franchise confirmed the acquisition through their official social media channels with the caption, “Bali Kare Sir. Tricky operator, Mahesh Dikshana joins Hyderabad Kingsmen.”
Deekshana brings considerable experience in the shorter format of the game. The 25-year-old has represented Sri Lanka in 83 T20 Internationals, taking 82 wickets at an economy rate of 7.08.
In all, he has played 225 T20 matches and has taken 230 wickets with an economy of 7.07, including four fours.
He has an extensive franchise, featuring in major leagues such as ILD20, Indian Premier League (IPL), SA20, Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Lanka Premier League (LPL).
The 11th edition of the PSL, scheduled to be held from March 26 to May 3, marks a significant expansion, with eight teams competing for the first time.
New entrants Hyderabad Kingsmen and Rawalpindi join the fray, with a total of 44 matches to be played in 39 days.
In a significant departure from the original plans, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has scaled back logistical arrangements. The matches will now be held exclusively at two venues, Karachi and Lahore, and behind closed doors.
Six cities, including Multan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad, were initially in the running to host the tournament.
PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced the revised arrangements at a media conference, explaining that the decisions were taken following a joint meeting with the franchise owners and consultation with the host Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Under the revised itinerary, Lahore will host Eliminators 1 and 2 and the finals, while the qualifiers will be held in Karachi. There is no change in the opening match between Hyderabad Kingsmen and Lahore Qalandars.
As the tournament temporarily adopts a home viewing model, the organizers have confirmed the introduction of enhanced broadcast and production features designed to provide a better viewing experience for fans in Pakistan and around the world.
Hyderabad Kingsmen squad updated for PSL 11:
Marnus Labuschagne (catch), Hasan Khan (VC), Usman Khan, Akif Javed, Mas Sadaq, Saim Ayub, Muhammad Ali, Khusal Perera, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Glenn Maxwell, Hammad Azam, Riley Meredith, Sharjeel Khan, Huan Meham, Asif Meham Dayab. Arif, Mahesh Deekshana and Ahmed Hussain.
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