The Pakistan Super League is facing problems even before the season begins. The tournament is going to start on the 26th of March, but the teams are losing main players. Dasun Shanaka has officially withdrawn from PSL 2026, as per the recent update. Earlier, The Lahore Qalandars picked the Sri Lankan all-rounder during the auction. The team is losing Shanaka as they are going to play their first match soon, and they need him. BREAKING NEWS 🚨Dasun Shanaka to Rajasthan Royals 🇱🇰 T20i Skipper Dasun Shanaka is set to join the Rajasthan Royals squad as a Injury replacement.#sportspavilionlk #danushkaaravinda #ipl2026 #DasunShanaka pic.twitter.com/uC32mW3caq — DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) March 22, 2026 Shanaka Joins Rajasthan Royals Shanaka has now joined Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2026. He has joined the team to replace Sam Curran who is unavailable because of a groin injury. The team anticipated that Curran would contribute significantly with both batting and bowling abilities. The absence of Curran made the franchise create a rapid decision which occurred before the March 28 tournament beginning. Shanaka brings good experience in T20 cricket. He is renowned for his ability to hit powerfully during middle-order batting while being able to bowl short stretches. Also Read | IPL 2026: Aakash Chopra Raises Concerns Over SRH Bowling Attack What Shanaka Adds To The Team Shanaka has emerged as a crucial member of Sri Lanka during the recent years. He excels at close match finishes while remaining composed under high pressure situation. His previous IPL experience with Gujarat Titans in 2023 did not meet team expectations but he needs to deliver better results this season. He participated in three matches during that season and scored 26 runs. He last appeared in PSL 2023 when he played two games for Peshawar Zalmi. His recent form has been decent. He scored 165 runs during ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 by playing six innings with a good strike rate. He also took some wickets while bowling. Impact On PSL 2026 Shanaka's departure increases the count of players who have exited PSL 2026. The tournament has seen numerous international players withdraw their participation this year. The international players who have withdrawn include Harry Brook, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Faf du Plessis, Blessing Muzarabani, Tymal Mills, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi and Fazalhaq Farooqi. The evidence shows that players choose to prioritize IPL over PSL according to this trend. Teams Dealing With Injuries IPL 2026 team plans face disruption from injuries which have affected multiple teams. Kolkata Knight Riders is one of the teams which suffer from multiple injuries. Players such as Harshit Rana and Akash Deep already ruled out due to injury. Matheesha Pathirana currently waits for permission to participate in matches.The search for replacements by multiple teams has increased opportunities for players like Shanaka.