Just days after being unceremoniously dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to political pressure, Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman has found a new battleground.
The left-arm sensation has officially signed up for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
The development was confirmed via the PSL's official social media handles on Tuesday; sharing a photo of the pacer, the league issued a playful warning: “Batsmen beware… Mustafizur Rahman joins HBL PSL 11.”
Read more: BCCI asks KKR to release Mustafizur from IPL 2026 squad
Mustafizur’s entry into the PSL comes as a direct repost to his exclusion from the IPL.
He was set to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who had purchased him for a record BDT 9.20 crore (INR 9.20 crore) after a bidding war with Chennai and Delhi.
However, KKR released him last Saturday following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), citing threats from “extremist groups” and political objections.
While the IPL's loss appears to be the PSL's gain, Mustafizur’s specific team in Pakistan is yet to be determined. He will enter the upcoming player draft, where he is expected to be a top pick.
This year's PSL, scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, will be the tournament's largest edition to date, expanding to eight teams.
Read more: “Days of slavery are over”: Bangladesh’s sports adviser reacts strongly to Mustafizur’s IPL exit
This year will be Mustafizur’s return to the league after a seven-year hiatus; he previously played for the Lahore Qalandars in 2018, taking 4 wickets in 5 matches.