Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz has announced that he will not be joining the Kandy Royals for the 2026 Lanka Premier League (LPL) despite being selected by the franchise.
In a statement shared on social media, Gurbaz thanked the Kandy Royals for placing their trust in him and selecting him to represent the franchise in the tournament.
However, he said he would be unavailable due to his commitments in Afghanistan’s domestic T20 competition, the Shpageeza Cricket League.
“Unfortunately, due to my commitments with Afghanistan’s domestic tournament, the Shpageeza Cricket League, I will not be able to join the Kandy Royals squad this season,” Gurbaz said.
The Afghanistan international added that he informed the franchise well in advance to allow sufficient time to find a suitable replacement and make the necessary preparations.
Gurbaz also wished the Kandy Royals and the Lanka Premier League a successful tournament.
His withdrawal leaves Kandy Royals searching for a replacement ahead of the start of the 2026 LPL season. (NewsWire)