Sri Lankan players under pressure from IPL franchises to opt out of Pakistan series, claims Shahid Afridi
Former Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi has claimed that it is because of pressure from IPL franchises that several Sri Lankan players have opted out of the team’s tour of Pakistan later this month. The bizarre claim comes less than a week after minister Fawad Chaudhry made a similar statement.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to travel to Pakistan for a limited-overs series starting from September 27. But as many as ten Sri Lankan players including the likes of ODI captain Dimuth Karunaratne, T20I skipper Lasith Malinga and senior all-rounder Angelo Mathews had opted out of the tour citing security concerns. After claiming to have spoken to a few Sri Lankan players, Afridi alleged that IPL franchises have warned that they won't be awarded contracts if they agree to travel to Pakistan.
"Sri Lankan players are under pressure from IPL franchises. I spoke to Sri Lankan players last time when there was the 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," Afridi said in a video interview, reported TimesNowNews.com.
Afridi further added that the Sri Lankan board themselves should pressurize their players to make the trip. Currently, the board has announced a second-string T20I and ODI squads in the absence of their big names.
"Pakistan has always supported Sri Lanka, it never happened that we had a tour of Sri Lanka & our players rested. Sri Lanka's board should put pressure on their contracted players to go to Pakistan. Sri Lanka players who'll come will always be remembered in Pakistan's history," Afridi added.
Meanwhile, the tour itself was finally given the confirmation after the security check by the defence ministry came back positive.
"We have the green light from the defence ministry. The tour is on as we planned. I myself and our office bearers will also be accompanying the team," Mohan de Silva, Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary, told AFP on Thursday.
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