Galle Gladiators won't have their captain, Shahid Afridi, available for the first two games of the campaign in the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 as he missed the scheduled flight on Monday (November 23). 

The former Pakistan captain confirmed the news via a tweet and though he did mention he will be "reaching soon to take part in the LPL", ESPNcricinfo reported, the details of his next flight to the Island nation aren't yet cleared. 

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Gladiators are hoping for Afridi's arrival by Wednesday (November 25). But given the COVID-19 quarantine regulations, the team have also confirmed their skipper won't be available for their first two games on November 27 and 28 versus Jaffna Stallions and Colombo Kings, respectively. 

Upon arrival, Afridi will have to undergo three-day total isolation and an additional less stringent quarantine before he can enter the tournament's bio-secure bubble. 

Afridi's missed flight means the Gladiators have now faced repeated issues leading into the tournament. Originally slated to captain the side, Lasith Malinga withdrew from the tournament last week citing inapt preparations. This, as Sarfaraz Ahmed too became unavailable on being picked to tour New Zealand with the Pakistan side. 

It is understood, vice-captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa is now set to lead the team in the earlier part of the competition. 

The LPL T20 is due to kickstart on Thursday (November 26) with Colombo Kings taking on Kandy Tuskers in Hambantota. 

(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)