NOC approved: Shaheen Afridi to play for Kandy Royals in LPL

Shaheen Shah Afridi has been granted an NOC by the PCB to play for Kandy Royals in the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL). Official clearance The Pakistan Cricket Board has approved Shaheen’s participation, allowing him to join the LPL franchise. Shaheen’s addition gives Kandy Royals a major pace-bowling boost ahead of the tournament. With the NOC in hand, Shaheen is now set to feature for the Royals during the LPL season. Afridi - earlier this month - was omitted from Pakistan's squads for the Tests against West Indies and England after an indifferent run in the format. The 26-year-old has of late been perceived as more inclined towards white-ball cricket, with Aaqib Javed, Pakistan selector and high-performance director, saying earlier this month that "a player has to pick which format he wants to play". The Tests against the West Indies clash with the LPL. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was named Pakistan’s ODI captain last year, led the side to a 2-1 home series win over Australia last month and finished as a joint-leading wicket-taker. Bowling performance Afridi took 7 wickets at 12.14 to finish as joint-leading wicket-taker in the series. He shared the top-spot with Arafat Minhas, who debuted in the first ODI, and Australia’s Nathan Ellis. Afridi’s captaincy got off to a strong start with a series win, and he backed it up with the ball as one of the most economical and effective bowlers in the series. The LPL will run from July 17 until August 8. Kandy Royals play their first match against Dambulla Sixers on July 18.