PSL: Islamabad United sign Pavan Rathnayake as replacement for Airee

Islamabad United have signed Sri Lankan batter Pavan Rathnayake as a replacement for Nepal international Dipendra Singh Airee for the rest of PSL 11.

Airee was picked by Islamabad United in the player draft for Rs. 6 million, but his limited availability means he will receive 70 percent of that amount, which comes to Rs. 4.2 million. The remaining Rs. 1.8 million will go to Rathnayake, who is set to make his PSL debut.

The 23-year-old has limited franchise experience, with appearances in the Lanka Premier League, but he already has international exposure with Sri Lanka in T20 cricket. He has scored 266 runs in 12 T20Is at a strike rate of 146.96, including two half-centuries.

Alongside confirming the replacement, Islamabad United also revealed updated details of their squad spending for the season.

The franchise have a total purse of Rs. 505 million and have already used Rs. 494.75 million, leaving only Rs. 17.25 million available. The numbers show Islamabad have spent heavily in building their squad for PSL 11.

Faheem Ashraf is the franchise’s highest-paid player with a salary of Rs. 85 million. He is followed by Shadab Khan and Mark Chapman, who are both on Rs. 70 million, while Devon Conway is valued at Rs. 63 million.

Islamabad United are currently second on the PSL 11 points table with four wins, two defeats and one no-result from seven matches. They have nine points and a net run rate of 1.481.

--Agencies