Lahore Qalandars have strengthened their squad ahead of PSL 11 by bringing in Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, as the defending champions fine-tune their overseas options before the tournament begins on 26 March.
Wellalage’s arrival comes as West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie is expected to miss the season after deciding to withdraw. Motie’s reported pullout follows major travel disruption after the T20 World Cup, with the West Indies team delayed in leaving India due to wider regional airspace constraints before eventually securing commercial flights home.
At 23, Wellalage is viewed as a like-for-like spin option and a high-upside signing. He impressed with the ball at the T20 World Cup, finishing with eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.22, and is also regarded as a steadily improving lower-middle-order batter—an added bonus in T20 squad building.
The Qalandars, who have won three of the last four PSL titles, open their PSL 11 campaign in the tournament’s first match against new franchise Hyderabad Kingsmen. Wellalage is also set to link up with fellow Sri Lankan Dasun Shanaka, who was already added by Lahore at the auction.
The late overseas reshuffles are not limited to Lahore. Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani is also set to miss PSL 11 after securing an IPL deal with Kolkata Knight Riders, prompting his withdrawal from Islamabad United.
His switch comes amid another season where the PSL and IPL schedules overlap, increasing the likelihood of last-minute changes for franchises on both sides.
