KEY POINTS
- Indian cricket board instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur.
- Bangladesh Cricket Board informed ICC it will not send its team to India for T20 World Cup.
- Mustafizur’s signing is a strategic gain for Pakistan Super League.
LAHORE, Pakistan: In a significant crossover move, Bangladesh’s star left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been confirmed for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, the tournament announced on Tuesday.
His franchise assignment will be revealed in the coming days.
The development comes amidst a high-profile exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL), where his former team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), released him ahead of the new season.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed the franchise to part ways with the bowler.
PSL and IPL schedules clash
The 11th edition of the PSL and the upcoming IPL season are scheduled to run concurrently this year.
Despite fetching a high price at the recent IPL auction, Mustafizur will now ply his trade in Pakistan’s premier T20 league instead.
The PSL management welcomed the bowler, known as “The Fizz,” with a social media post stating: “Batters better shake carefully, it’s going to Fizz in the New Era, Mustafizur Rahman joins PSL 11.”
His addition is expected to bolster the pace attack of whichever franchise secures him in the upcoming draft or direct signing.
Bangladesh takes hard stance against India
The move is set against a backdrop of escalating diplomatic tensions in cricket. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has adopted a firm stance following Mustafizur’s IPL release.
In a major escalation, the BCB has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not send its national team to India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, citing serious security apprehensions for its players.
This decision directly references the “security reasons” stated for Mustafizur’s dismissal from the IPL and signals a deepening rift.
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be hosted in India and Sri Lanka in February this year.
New challenge for Mustafizur
Mustafizur’s participation marks a notable gain for the PSL, adding a world-renowned T20 specialist to its roster. For the bowler, it presents a fresh challenge in a familiar subcontinental environment.
All eyes will now be on the franchise pick and how his experience influences the dynamic of PSL 11, which begins on March 26.
The broader implications of the BCB’s stance on the World Cup remain a pressing issue for the global cricket calendar.
