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Mustafizur Rahman may miss a part of IPL 2026 for Kolkata Knight Riders as a result of Bangladesh’s home series against Latest Zealand, but could return if BCB grants a versatile NOC.
Mustafizur Rahman will play for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 (PTI)
Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman might miss a small portion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season as a result of possible international commitments, causing slight uncertainty over his availability for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
In accordance with reports, sources inside the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have indicated that Mustafizur is probably not available between April 16 and April 23, a period that would coincide with Bangladesh’s proposed home series against Latest Zealand. The series is anticipated to incorporate each ODI and T20I matches, although the ultimate schedule is yet to be officially confirmed.
Why Mustafizur May Not Play Entire IPL 2026?
The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to run from late March through the tip of May, allowing partial participation by overseas players with national duties during this era. In Mustafizur’s case, there may be optimism that he could still feature in many of the tournament. The BCB is reportedly considering issuing a versatile No-Objection Certificate (NOC), which might permit the left-arm pacer to skip the ODI leg of the Latest Zealand series while remaining available for the T20Is. Such an arrangement could enable him to return to India quickly and rejoin KKR for the latter stages of the league.
On the IPL 2026 auction, KKR secured the services of the experienced seamer for a considerable Rs 9.20 crore, making him the most costly Bangladeshi player ever bought at an IPL auction. With this signing, Mustafizur becomes the fourth player from Bangladesh to represent the franchise, following Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, and Litton Das.
Only Cricketer From Bangladesh
Interestingly, Mustafizur was the one Bangladeshi cricketer picked by any franchise at this 12 months’s auction. Several other Bangladesh players, including Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Rishad Hossain, were a part of the auction pool but either went unsold or weren’t called up for bidding. This further underscored Mustafizur’s fame as a proven T20 specialist, particularly renowned for his cutters and effectiveness on the death.
He entered the auction with a base price of Rs 2 crore and immediately sparked a bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings. CSK and DC, who’ve each previously benefited from his services, pushed hard within the early stages as the worth crossed Rs 5 crore. Nevertheless, the dynamics modified dramatically once KKR joined the competition. A fierce back-and-forth ensued, with the bid climbing past Rs 7 crore. After CSK made one final attempt near the Rs 9 crore mark, KKR held their nerve and sealed the deal at Rs 9.20 crore.
Mustafizur’s IPL journey dates back to 2016, when he made history by becoming the primary overseas player to win the Emerging Player award while also lifting the title. Since then, he has played for five different franchises, claiming 65 wickets in 60 matches. If available for many of IPL 2026, KKR will probably be hoping his experience and variations add significant firepower to an already strong bowling attack.
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December 17, 2025, 22:46 IST
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