Kusal Perera has joined the Hyderabad Kingsmen franchise for the upcoming PSL 2026 season. Perera did not take any fitness assessments from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) whereas many Sri Lankan athletes had to do so, according to sources.

Perera chose to skip fitness tests because Sri Lanka cricket selectors currently do not select him for their national team plans. However, he was part of the Sri Lanka squad during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

SLC required several Sri Lankan players to complete fitness tests before they could receive NoCs to participate in PSL 2026 and IPL 2026. Players like Wanindu Hasaranga, Nuwan Thushara, and Matheesha Pathirana need to take the tests, but Perera skipped them because he is not part of the national team selection process.

Kusal Perera entered the PSL 2026 auction pool in February and Hyderabad Kingsmen picked him for an impressive PKR 31 million. The franchise is one of two new teams added to the tournament this season.

He will share the dressing room with fellow Sri Lankan Maheesh Theekshana, along with overseas stars like captain Marnus Labuschagne, Riley Meredith, and Glenn Maxwell.

The Lahore Qalandars saw Perera make his first appearance in the 2025 season which he will now repeat in his second PSL season. The left-handed player achieved 170 runs during four innings, which included two half-centuries, while maintaining an average of 56.67.

The arrival of Perera improves Hyderabad Kingsmen, however, the Pakistan Cricket Board faces difficulties in maintaining its planned overseas lineup for PSL 2026. Some players chose IPL 2026, while others deal with injuries.

Ottniel Baartman, a South African pacer, abandoned his Kingsmen contract earlier this month to join Chennai Super Kings as a replacement for injured Nathan Ellis in IPL 2026.

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka also switched to Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for Sam Curran despite initially signing with Lahore Qalandars.

- Agencies