Shahid Afridi claims IPL franchises as a reason for which Sri Lankan players are neglecting to tour Pakistan for match series

Shahid Afridi, former Pakistani cricketer has announced a reason that why Sri Lankan players are not visiting to Pakistan. SLC has recently denied to issue NOC to several players as they neglected board’s policy for which they had to visit Pakistan for match series. Before this event, it was decided by SLC to sent their team for test series in Pakistan. It was also denied later on and security issues were presented as an excuse. Later on, they decided to play short format cricket in Pakistan instead of red-ball cricket.

Everything was going fine until the main key players denied to visit Pakistan for series. SLC denied to issue NOCs to Thisara Parera and Niroshan Dickwella for CPL. The name of the players are:

Thisara Parera

•Lasith Malinga

•Niroshan Dickwella

•Janith Parera

•Anglew Mathews

•Akila Dhananiava

•Suranga Lakmal

•Dinesh Chandimal

•Dimuth Karunaratne

The reason behind players avoiding to visit Pakistan as Shahid Afridi claims is that IPL franchises are forcing Sri Lanka’s players not to go Pakistan to play either they will not provide the contract for playing IPL to them.

According to Saj Sadiq tweet,

Shahid Afridi "Sri Lankan players are under pressure from IPL franchises. I spoke to SL players last time when there was talk of them coming to Pakistan & playing in PSL. They said they wanted to come, but IPL guys say if you go to Pakistan we won't give you a contract" #PAKvSL

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) September 19, 2019

Players who will visit Pakistan on 23rd September are:

ODIs squad:

Lahiru Thirimanne (capt), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Minod Bhanuka, Angelo Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara

T20s squad:

Dasun Shanaka (capt), Danushka Gunathilaka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Minod Bhanuka, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan, Isuru Udana, Nuwan Pradeep, Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara.

Click here to see complete schedule of Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan