The Bangladesh Cricket Board has allowed its premium fast bowler in limited-overs format Mustafizur Rahman to play in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. The decision is important considering the huge outcry regarding the country’s best cricketer Shakib Al Hasan being misrepresented by the board and then threatened with a reconsideration of his IPL No Objection Certificate.
Shakib was eventually given the certificate as he left for Mumbai on Saturday, March 27. Mustafiz, 25, is currently in New Zealand playing the limited-overs series. Bangladesh have already lost the ODI series 0-3 and the three match T20I series commences today. Fizz would join his team Rajasthan Royals in due course of time. The Royals bought the ‘Fizz’ for Indian Rupee 1 crore, his base price in the 2021 IPL Mini Auction.
BCB's chief selector Minhajul Abedin, commenting on the NOC granted to Mustafiz said that he was not in Bangladesh’s scheme of things as far as the next two Tests against Sri Lanka are concerned.
"We have given him NOC for IPL as he is not in our Test plans for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka," said Minhajul on Saturday. "It's better if he plays there and gains some experience," Abedin was quoted as saying to Cricbuzz.
Earlier, after the Shakib controversy, Mustafiz had said that country comes first for him.
"My first priority is to play for my country and if I am picked in the Test series against Sri Lanka, I will naturally play. If I am not picked then BCB will tell me that I am not included. At that point, if I am given NOC to play in the IPL then I will play but patriotism comes first for me,” the Fizz told media regarding his IPL plans.