Lanka Premier League (LPL) is delighted to welcome back Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is set to rejoin the Kandy Royals for the remainder of the tournament. He will be joined by fellow Pakistan internationals Khushdil Shah and Hassan Nawaz, bolstering the Royals’ squad ahead of the LPL 2026 Playoffs.
One of the world’s premier fast bowlers, Afridi’s return provides a major boost to the Kandy Royals as they strengthen their squad for the business end of the competition. Afridi had departed earlier with a commitment to return should the Royals qualify for the playoffs.
While Kandy’s qualification hopes appeared slim, a rain-affected match between the Jaffna Kings and Dambulla Sixers opened the door for the Royals to secure a place in the knockout stage.
Joining Afridi in the Kandy Royals squad are fellow Pakistan internationals Khushdil Shah and Hassan Nawaz, further strengthening the team’s balance and depth. The trio replaces Moeen Ali, Sediqullah Atal, and Brandon McMullen, who have departed the squad.
Meanwhile, the Jaffna Kings have made one change to their squad, with Nishan Madushka leaving for national duty and Vishad Randika coming in as his replacement.
>>Bloomfield and BRC advance to U23 Inter-Club 2-Day Tournament Final
LPL 2026 Playoffs will commence on August 5 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo. The opening day will feature the Qualifier, with the Jaffna Kings taking on the Galle Gallants, followed by the Eliminator, where the Kandy Royals will face the Colombo KAPS in a battle for a place in the next stage of the tournament.
With the return of several international stars and the race for the championship entering its decisive phase, fans can look forward to an exciting conclusion to another thrilling season of the Lanka Premier League.
 is delighted to welcome back Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is set to rejoin the Kandy Royals for the remainder of the tournament. He will be joined by fellow Pakistan internationals Khushdil Shah and Hassan Nawaz, bolstering the Royals' squad ahead of the LPL 2026 Playoffs.){kind=link}