Afridi’s arrival for LPL delayed, Vaas, Ali pull out of Kings' coaching roles

By Bipin Dani

The arrival of Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi to Sri Lanka for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will be delayed by a few days, it is learnt. 

The 40-year-old Afridi has been drafted by the Galle Gladiators team. 

"Afridi's youngest daughter is sick and therefore he will not be travelling with the other Pakistani players on Thursday but will join the team within next three or four days," a source close to the team management said.  

Afridi is a father of five daughters and the youngest was born last February. 

"She is recovering well and hopefully Afridi will join the team in the next few days and will not only manage the quarantine policy in Sri Lanka but will play the matches," team coach Moin Khan said.   

Most of the foreign players of all teams are reaching Sri Lanka on Thursday. 

"Our five players will reach on 19th and Shoaib Malik is arriving on Friday," Jaffna Stallions media director Saranga Wijeyarathne said. 

The Colombo Kings franchise, meanwhile, has suffered a blow after their coach Kabir Ali tested positive for Covid-19 before he could leave for Sri Lanka. 

Ali was to replace Australian Dav Whatmore who pulled out due to personal reasons. 

"We are looking at a few options. We haven't decided yet on Kabir Ali's replacement," Shadab Jakati, a Colombo Kings franchise said. 

Jakati also confirmed that former Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas has also pulled out. Vaas was supposed to be the assistant coach when Whatmore was to be the team's head coach.  

Team captain Angelo Mathews conveyed the news to his team members.

In the meantime, the authorities have confirmed that none of the support staff of the national team practicing in Kandy has returned a Covid-19 positive result. 

"It is only the baggage man who had not joined the team nor the bio-secure bubble that was found to be positive and he won’t join the national squad," Prof. Arjuna de Silva, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Cricket Medical Panel confirmed