Mustafizur Rahman has joined the Pakistan Super League (2026) after his controversial exit from the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) auction back in December. He will be joining the reigning champions, Lahore Qalandars, for the 11th edition of the PSL. This is not the first time that he has featured for the franchise. He was previously selected by the Qalandars in 2016 and 2018.
The Bangladesh speedster is poised to return to the franchise after 8 years for the 2026 season after signing for PKR 6.44 crore. Mustafizur Rahman has represented Bangladesh in 15 Tests, 116 One-Day Internationals, and 126 Twenty20 Internationals, taking 366 wickets across all formats. Furthermore, the 30-year-old bowler has played franchise cricket around the world, taking 412 wickets in 322 appearances with an average of 21.03.
Mustafizur Rahman-starrer Lahore Qalandars to regain the trophy
The defending champions already retained captain Shaheen Afridi, Abdullah Shafique, all-rounder Sikandar Raza, and Mohammad Naeem for the forthcoming season. Bangladesh was removed from the ICC after it refused to change its stance on travelling to India, citing security reasons. Pakistan supported Bangladesh and thus has decided to boycott the game against India.
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The latest issue surrounding the ICC T20 World Cup arose when Mustafizur was dropped by the Indian Premier League (IPL) club Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on January 3 following the order from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
T20 World Cup chaos continues
Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the mega-event following several meetings between the BCB and the International Cricket Council (ICC). To add to the tension, Bangladesh’s government has announced a ban on IPL broadcasts and coverage in the country.
“Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar. Mustafizur is not just a player; he’s a brother, a key part of our family who never left,” said Lahore Qalandars owner Sameen Rana. “We are thrilled to welcome him back to our dressing room. His talent, experience, and dedication will be invaluable as we aim to defend our title and make a statement in PSL 11.”
PSL comes with new rules
At PSL, he is the second direct signing of the season after Sialkot Stallionz’s Steven Smith. Outside of the February 11 auction, each team is permitted to sign one player.
As per the new rule, all the players – retained, directly signed, or picked at the auction – will have a two-year contract with their franchise. The teams can sign 16 to 20 players, with five to seven overseas players and at least one local player under the age of 23 who is yet to play the PSL.
Speaking on his behalf, Bangladesh national team assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin shared Mustafizur Rahman’s reaction on Tuesday at Mirpur said he personally found Mustafizur’s mindset inspiring. “He could have been devastated it was a lot of money. But he understands that this wasn’t in his hands. That’s something worth learning from him, and maybe others will learn from it too.” However, the pacer has remained calm over choosing chaos and has taken himself from the light.
Also Read: Pakistan Cricket Board announces PSL ban in India amid rising tensions