Mustafizur Rahman joins PSL just days after getting released from IPL 2026. The Bangladeshi pacer lost his KKR contract due to escalating political tensions. BCCI forced the franchise to let him go despite paying Rs 9.20 crore.
Pakistan Super League announced his signing on their official Facebook page excitedly. They welcomed him as part of their “New Era of PSL” campaign. Mustafizur Rahman joins PSL 2026 looking for redemption after the IPL mess happened.
From IPL 2026 Rejection to PSL
KKR grabbed Mustafizur at the IPL 2026 auction with aggressive bidding strategies. He was supposed to spearhead their pace attack this season. But political protests in India changed everything within weeks of signing.
The release came after allegations about minority persecution in Bangladesh surfaced widely. India-Bangladesh cricket relations hit rock bottom because of these geopolitical issues. IPL 2026 lost a quality bowler while PSL 2026 gained one immediately.
Mustafizur had no choice but to look elsewhere for T20 opportunities. PSL 2026 draft became his next destination after the IPL rejection. The league starts March 23 with eight teams instead of six.
Bangladesh’s Strong Response
BCB reacted furiously to Mustafizur’s exclusion from the IPL 2026 tournament there. They threatened to pull Bangladesh out of the T20 World Cup matches. The board suggested relocating their India fixtures to Sri Lanka instead.
Bangladesh’s government stopped broadcasting IPL matches across the country immediately afterwards. That ban remains until ICC provides proper communication about the situation. The cricket board wants answers before allowing IPL content back on air.
These responses show how seriously Bangladesh considers this matter affecting cricket. Political issues destroyed what should’ve been purely sporting decisions made. Mustafizur became a casualty in this unfortunate diplomatic mess unfolding.
PSL 2026 Experience Ahead
Mustafizur played five PSL matches for Lahore Qalandars back in 2018. He grabbed four wickets with an economy rate of 6.43 then. That previous experience helps him settle into the PSL 2026 environment quickly.
The upcoming season promises to be PSL’s biggest yet with expansion. Mustafizur gets a fresh platform to showcase his cutters and variations. His IPL 2026 disappointment might fuel better performances in Pakistan’s league now.
