Lahore Qalandars have strengthened their squad for PSL 11 with the signing of Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, as the defending champions finalize their overseas options before the tournament begins on 26 March. His arrival comes after West Indies spinner Gudakesh Motie withdrew from the season, reportedly due to travel disruptions following the T20 World Cup.

At just 23, Wellalage is seen as a high-upside addition and a like-for-like replacement for Motie. He impressed at the World Cup with eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.22, while also showing promise as a lower-middle-order batter—an asset in the fast-paced format of T20 cricket.

The Qalandars, who have claimed three of the last four PSL titles, will open their campaign in the tournament’s first match against the newly introduced Hyderabad Kingsmen. Wellalage will also reunite with fellow Sri Lankan Dasun Shanaka, who was secured earlier in the auction, giving Lahore a strong Sri Lankan presence in their lineup.

Elsewhere, overseas reshuffles continue to affect other franchises. Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani has withdrawn from PSL 11 after signing with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, leaving Islamabad United to adjust their plans. With PSL and IPL schedules overlapping once again, teams across both leagues are bracing for further last-minute changes to their squads.

India’s cricket calendar could become even busier this summer, with discussions underway to add extra T20 Internationals in both Sri Lanka and Ireland. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering proposals that would see the world champions squeeze in additional fixtures before their scheduled tours of England and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Cricket has reportedly requested India to play three T20Is in July-August as part of a fundraising initiative for flood relief, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah last November. If approved, the matches would precede the two World Test Championship fixtures already planned between the two nations. India’s T20I side, led by Suryakumar Yadav, would therefore begin the Sri Lanka tour with white-ball cricket before switching focus to the red-ball format.

Meanwhile, talks are also progressing between the BCCI and Cricket Ireland over a three-match T20I series in Dublin in late June. The games would likely take place en route to England, where India are scheduled for a white-ball series featuring three ODIs and five T20Is from July 1 to 19. India has a history of playing short bilateral series in Ireland, having toured Dublin in 2018, 2022, and 2023 to support the growth of cricket in the region.

These potential additions come on the heels of India’s home series against Afghanistan, which runs from June 6 to 20 and includes one Test and three ODIs. If the Ireland and Sri Lanka proposals are finalized, India’s players will face a relentless stretch of matches across formats and continents, underscoring the demands of modern international cricket.

Pakistan fast bowler Salman Mirza has served a legal notice to broadcaster ARY Communications and journalist Shahid Hashmi, accusing them of spreading false and defamatory claims about his conduct during the team’s recent stay in Sri Lanka.

The notice, dated March 12, refers to a report aired on March 5 by ARY News which alleged that Mirza had misbehaved with a female staff member at the team hotel in Kandy and that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had fined him over the incident.

Mirza has strongly denied the allegations, with his legal team describing the broadcast as baseless and damaging to his reputation. The PCB also rejected the claims through its official X account, calling the report “agenda-driven fake news” and stressing that no disciplinary action had been taken against the player.

In the legal notice, Mirza’s lawyers demanded that ARY News and Hashmi retract the report from all platforms, issue an unconditional public apology, and pay damages of 100 million Pakistani rupees for the harm caused to his reputation and goodwill. The notice further warns that court proceedings will be initiated if these demands are not met within seven days.