Shahid Afridi, the icon player of Ruhuna Royals, withdrew himself from the ongoing Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) ahead of his team’s encounter against Uva Next on Tuesday.
It is understood that Afridi’s wife is unwell and he had leave for Pakistan immediately. A top management executive of the SLPL organising committee told Wisden India, “He has told us that if the issues get resolved then he will be back for the remaining matches.”
In three matches for Ruhuna so far, Afridi has scored 52 runs and picked up two wickets. His best batting performance came in Ruhuna’s last match, when he smashed a quickfire 36 against Kandurata Warriors at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on August 20.
Ruhuna play their next league game against Basnahira Cricket Dundee at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 25.
As per an earlier agreement, all Pakistan cricketers in the SLPL who are part of Pakistan’s One-Day International team will leave Sri Lanka midway through the tournament to go to Sharjah before Pakistan’s ODI series against Australia, which starts on August 28. (NDTV)
