Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) might have a slight problem regarding international fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s availability during IPL 2026 owing to his commitments with the national team of Bangladesh. This left arm pacer was one of the main players from KKR in the auction and the team got him for INR 9.20 crore, which is the highest amount ever paid for a Bangladeshi in IPL history.
The BCB has announced that their series with Pakistan will consist of two Test matches and three ODIs. The games will most probably be divided into before and after the PSL in March, which coincides with the Super League. Earlier on, Pakistan was supposed to host a T20I series alongside the ODIs, which has now been canceled as the two sides already met for a three-match T20I series in June.
Mustafizur Rahman to be out of IPL 2026 for about eight days because of national duty
According to Cricbuzz, it was suggested by Bangladesh to conduct the ODI series prior to the PSL, while the Test series could be concluded in May after the league ends. Nazmul Abedin, the BCB’s cricket operations chairman, said that the Pakistan series was going to be staged in two parts around the PSL window.
Nazmul also revealed Mustafizur’s IPL situation and said that the bowler had received a No Objection Certificate for the whole of IPL season. However, he would come back to Bangladesh for a short time during the ODI series against New Zealand. Mustafizur is expected to be out of IPL for approximately eight days for this series, which is crucial for the Bangladeshi team in their World Cup qualification scenario.
“We have given Mustafizur an NOC for the entire IPL. He will only return to play for the national team during the New Zealand ODI series, which consists of three matches,” Nazmul said.
“He will come back for eight days to play the ODI series,” he further said.
KKR fortify pace bunch by bringing Mustafizur Rahman.
The BCB is of the view that Mustafizur’s participation in the IPL will keep him well-prepared for the New Zealand series. After the ODI series, he is to join KKR for the rest of IPL 2026.
At this year’s auction, Mustafizur was the sole Bangladeshi player who got a bid. He started off with a base price of INR 2 crore and with that his name quickly drew interest from the Delhi Capitals and the Chennai Super Kings before finally KKR came out victorious in the bidding.
He has been part of five franchises since his IPL entry in 2016 and has taken 65 wickets in his 60 matches. Besides him, KKR have also bought Matheesha Pathirana for INR 18 crore.
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