Mustafizur Rahman will play in Pakistan Super League, announces PCB

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman will feature in the next edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on its official PSL handle on X, even though the player auction for the tournament has yet to take place.

The announcement comes amid a swirl of political and cricketing controversy surrounding the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Mustafizur was released from Kolkata Knight Riders following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which cited growing tensions between India and Bangladesh over alleged atrocities against minorities.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing safety and security concerns. The ICC reportedly rejected the request in a virtual call with the BCB, warning that the national side would risk forfeiting points if they refuse to travel to India.

Bangladesh are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against West Indies on 7 February at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, before facing Italy and England at the same venue, followed by a trip to Mumbai to play Nepal at Wankhede Stadium.

The BCB, however, has stated that the team will not travel to India under the current conditions, citing advice from the Bangladesh government and concerns for the squad’s safety. Mustafizur’s inclusion in the IPL 2026 had sparked political backlash in India, but the pacer now has a new platform in the PSL to continue his T20 endeavors.  (With inputs from Agencies)