Malaysian all-rounder Virandeep Singh has been officially drafted into the Galle Gallants squad for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026, replacing UAE left-arm spinner Haider Ali, who has withdrawn from the tournament due to national team commitments.
The inclusion of Virandeep ensures that the Galle Gallants continue to comply with the Lanka Premier League’s Associate Player requirement, which mandates each franchise to include at least one player from an Associate Member nation in their squad. The initiative, introduced jointly by IPG Founder and Chairman, Anil Mohan, the event rights-holders of Lanka Premier League and the organizers, Sri Lanka Cricket, aims to provide greater exposure and opportunities for talented cricketers from emerging cricketing nations to compete at the highest levels of franchise cricket.
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Haider Ali was originally selected by the Galle Gallants during the recently concluded LPL 2026 Player Draft. However, following his unavailability, the franchise moved swiftly to secure the services of Virandeep Singh, one of Malaysia’s most accomplished cricketers.
A versatile right-handed batter and left-arm spinner, Virandeep brings a wealth of experience to the Gallants setup. The Malaysian international has featured in 122 T20 matches, scoring more than 3,000 runs while also claiming over 120 wickets, establishing himself as one of the leading all-rounders in Associate cricket.
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His arrival adds depth and balance to the Galle Gallants squad as they prepare for the highly anticipated eighth edition of the Lanka Premier League.
The Lanka Premier League 2026 is scheduled to be played from 17 July to 08 August in four venues across Sri Lanka.
 2026, replacing UAE left-arm spinner Haider Ali, who has withdrawn from the tournament due to national team commitments.){kind=link}