Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was close to leaving the Lanka Premier League (LPL) after he was left out of Kandy Royals’ match against Colombo Capitals despite reportedly being told he would play as the team’s ‘Impact Player’.According to media reports, the franchise had informed Afridi before the match that he would be used as an Impact Player, a tactical substitution rule first introduced in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Under the rule, a nominated player can replace another player during the match and can bat or bowl their full quota of four overs, while the substituted player takes no further part in the game.However, after Kandy Royals chose to bat first, the team’s coach reportedly told Afridi during the innings that his name had not been included on the official team sheet as the designated Impact Player because of an analyst’s mistake.
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The development left Afridi surprised. He immediately reported the matter to an official from the tournament’s Anti-Corruption Unit.Reports, including that of Pakistan’s Geo News, said the left-arm pacer was upset after being left out without any explanation and was ready to leave the tournament and return to Pakistan.The matter was later brought to the notice of the match referee. Franchise officials and league organisers apologised to Afridi and convinced him to continue playing in the tournament instead of leaving.
