Rahman was released by KKR on directions of BCCI ahead of the IPL 2026 season.
Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has found a new gig after being released from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the IPL 2026. Rahman, who was bought for INR 9.20 crores by KKR in the IPL 2026 auction, has decided to join the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL 2026) tournament.
Rahman was released from the KKR’s IPL 2026 squad on orders of the BCCI in the wake of the ongoing atrocities that are being committed on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. There was much opposition from multiple sectors in India to KKR buying a Bangladeshi player in the recent IPL 2026 auction in December.
"Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI/IPL, as the regulator of IPL, has instructed it to release Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season," the franchise had said in a statement.
In retaliation, not only has the Bangladesh Cricket Board asked the ICC to move their matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 from India, but the Bangladesh government has also banned IPL’s telecast in the country indefinitely.
Meanwhile, just two days after Rahman was removed from the IPL 2026, the PSL official account announced that the Bangladesh pacer has registered for the PSL 11 season.
The flagship league announced on its official social media channels, uploading a banner depicting the left-arm pacer, who has previously represented Bangladesh in 15 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 126 T20Is.
"Batters better shake carefully… It's going to Fizz in the #NewEra. Mustafizur Rahman joins HBL PSL 11!" PSL account captioned the post.
Mustafizur Rahman has played only five games in PSL, that too in the 2017-18 season, and has taken four wickets for Lahore Qalandars. He couldn’t participate in the Pakistan league, as it used to clash with his home Bangladesh Premier League.
However, the PSL has moved to the April-May window to clash with the IPL, and hence Mustafizur, who is currently playing in the BPL 2025-26, will be free to play in the Pakistan Super League.