Bipin Dani
There has not been any good news for Galle Gladiators. Their captain, Shahid Afridi, who joined the squad late because of his 9-month old youngest daughter’s illness, is leaving the Lanka Premier League (LPL) mid-way.
“The same daughter is not well again and he will be leaving the hotel in Hambantota at around 7.00 pm for Colombo, where he will catch a flight for Karachi at 1.00 am”, one of the team sources, speaking exclusively over the telephone, said.
Afridi has hoped to join his team once the situation improves back home. However, sources in the team management said, “owing to the quarantine rules, he is most unlikely to return”.
In Afridi’s absence, Bhanuka Rajapaksa will lead the team. Afghani bowler Afghanistan pace bowler Aftab Alam has also left the LPL and returned to his country because of his own sickness, it is learnt here.
According to the highly placed sources, the right-arm medium fast bowler, who turned 28 two days ago, left the team hotel on Tuesday itself and has reached Kabul.
The media release sent out by the team management did not specify the reason for his leaving the tournament mid-way and only specified it as personal reasons.
“My brother was not keeping well. His all six PCR tests results are negative but has corona symptoms. He has had fever, headache and was unable to eat food”, his brother, Taj Alam, speaking from Afghanistan, said.
Alam’s only appearance came in Dambulla Viiking’s second match of the tournament against the Jaffna Stallions, as he impressed with his death bowling returning figures of 1/22 in 3 overs.
Dambulla Viiking have won two out of the three matches they have played in the tournament so far, against the Kandy Tuskers and the Colombo Kings respectively.
The team management has so far not decided about his replacement. In the meantime, Sameera Samarawickrama, the wicket-keeper batsman has joined the team hotel and will be able.
