ISLAMABAD: Fresh off breaking Virat Kohli’s all-time run record in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan’s explosive opener Sahibzada Farhan has been unveiled as the ‘icon player’ for the Dambulla Sixers in the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL) season.
The franchise confirmed the signing on social media, capitalising on Farhan’s red-hot form from the recently concluded World Cup (co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka) and a stellar Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 campaign.
Icon Player Alert! 🚨
Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan is locked in for the upcoming LPL season as the Icon Player for Dambulla Sixers! 🔥Get ready for some serious fireworks in Sri Lanka! 💥🇱🇰 pic.twitter.com/QISSjxUYOJ
— Jalaluddin (@Jalalanp1122) May 20, 2026
“Icon Player Alert! Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan is locked in for the upcoming LPL season as the Icon Player for Dambulla Sixers,” the team announced.
Dominance in numbers
The right-handed batter finished as the leading run-scorer in the T20 World Cup 2026, amassing 383 runs in seven matches at a breathtaking average of 76.60 and a strike-rate of 160.25, including two fifties and two centuries. He became the first player to score two tons in a single T20 World Cup edition, eclipsing Kohli’s previous high of 319 runs. Tim Seifert (326) and Sanju Samson (321) now occupy second and third spots.
Global T20 pedigree
Overall, Farhan has represented Pakistan in 46 T20Is, scoring 1,305 runs at a strike-rate of 136.64 with 10 half-centuries and two hundreds.
He also brings significant franchise experience: 1,286 runs in 44 PSL matches (strike-rate 142.25) and a decent BPL stint for Rajshahi Warriors (185 runs in nine matches).
Tournament schedule
The LPL 2026 begins on July 17 with a rematch of the 2024 final between reigning champions Jaffna and runners-up Galle.
The opener will be played under lights at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, which hosted its first T20I during this year’s World Cup. The tournament runs until August 8 across four international venues in Sri Lanka.
