Shahid Afridi misses his flight to Sri Lanka, unlikely to start LPL from first game

Galle Gladiators will have to name another new captain at the start of their Lanka Premier League (LPL) campaign as they face another inconvenience involving their captain for the second time in the past week. Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi will miss at least two LPL games after he missed his flight to Sri Lanka on Monday.

The all-rounder who was also supposed to captain the Gladiators side informed everyone through a tweet that he had indeed missed his flight but mentioned that he will be 'reaching soon to take part in the LPL'. 

The details of his next flight are still up in the air, but Gladiators hoped that Afridi can be in the island country by Wednesday. The team also confirmed his unavailability for the first two games as Afridi will be required to serve a 3-day quarantine and a few more days of quarantine albeit with less restrictions, before he joins LPL's bio-secure bubble.

Missed my flight to Colombo today morning
Nothing to worry, I'll be reaching soon to take part in the LPL for Galle Gladiators. Look forward to joining my teammates

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) November 23, 2020

Earlier, Lasith Malinga who was the original captain of the side had withdrawn from the tournament citing lack of preparation before the league as the speedster hasn't played a game for a long time and even missed the IPL to be with his family. Pakistan wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed, another captaincy candidate for the Gladiators became unavailable after he was named in the national team for the tour of New Zealand.

Vice-captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa is likely to lead Gladiators in the absence of these senior players, before Afridi arrives Gladiators play their first game against Jaffna Stallions on November 27, and second game the next day against Colombo Kings.

The LPL is set to begin on November 26 and all the games will be played at Sooriyawewa stadium, near Hambantota.