Gudakesh Motie is set to withdraw from the Pakistan Super League, where he was signed by Lahore Qalandars.
The West Indies left-arm spinner's decision to pull out comes soon after he was able to return home from India. West Indies, who were knocked out of the recent T20 World Cup on March 1, had been stuck in Kolkata ever since due to the West Asia crisis. They were only able to secure commercial flights back home in the past two days due to airspaces being closed or limited.
ESPNcricinfo understands Lahore Qalandars have settled on a like-for-like replacement, and are on the verge of signing Dunith Wellalage. The 23-year old Sri Lankan had a decent T20 World Cup with the ball, taking eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.22, more than half a run better than Motie. He has also steadily improved as a lower-middle-order batter.
There are no indications that the travel chaos following the T20 World Cup will have further spillover effects concerning the availability of West Indian players at the PSL, with Motie the only player from their World Cup squad to have been signed by the PSL. South Africa were also unable to return home until the weekend, but no South African World Cup player is part of the PSL.
Lahore Qalandars are the defending champions, having won three of the last four titles, including a thriller at the Gaddafi Stadium in the final last year. Wellalage, should his signing be confirmed, will join his T20I captain at the side, with Dasun Shanaka snapped up by the Qalandars at the auction.
The PSL starts on March 26, with Qalandars playing the first match against new franchise Hyderabad Kingsmen.