Delhi Capitals have picked up Mustafizur Rahman as an injury replacement in IPL 2025. © Getty Will Mustafizur Rahman take part in the ongoin...
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Will Mustafizur Rahman take part in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season? The question is relevant after the Bangladesh pacer boarded the flight for Dubai on Wednesday (May 14) to be a part of the two-match T20I series against UAE, despite being picked by Delhi Capitals for the remainder of the tournament as a replacement for Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Cricbuzz understands that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is reportedly trying to assess the situation prevailing around the subcontinent following the border tensions between India and Pakistan, which forced their respective boards to postpone the IPL and Pakistan Super League (PSL). The BCB is conscious of making a rational decision in this regard but are also keen to avoid an uncomfortable situation with their neighbouring boards, BCCI and PCB.
The discussion around Mustafizur gained prominence in the BCB circles as granting an NOC to the fast bowler could potentially put the Board in a tricky position with regards to two other players. Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana, who were part of PSL earlier, are also part of the Bangladesh T20I squad for the tour of UAE, along with Mustafizur. Therefore, if the left-arm pacer were granted an NOC, then the BCB would be forced to do the same for Rishad and Rana.
"We are not saying that we won't let Mustafizur play in the IPL for the Delhi Capitals but at the same time, there is a thing called national commitment and he needs to fulfil that," a BCB director said on request of anonymity.
"Along with that, if we had released him in that case, what would we have done with the two cricketers who took part in PSL, as they could have asked why we were not releasing them?" he added.
"We don't want to be in a position that allows any Board to point a finger at us," he said.
It is understood that Mustafizur could be released after the two-match series against UAE, but another source insisted that the pacer could also be released after the opening game against UAE so that he could be available for Delhi Capitals' next game against Gujarat Titans at Delhi on May 18.
The second scenario means that Mustafizur would play three group-stage matches for the franchise, while the number of matches may increase if DC progress into the tournament's knockout stages.
If not, the 29-year-old will return and join the team if they eventually decide to play the series against Pakistan, scheduled from May 27, as his three-match campaign will end on May 24.
Mustafizur will be the third left-arm pace option for the Delhi Capitals, who also have Mitchell Starc and T Natarajan. DC still remain in the hunt for a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs when the season resumes on May 17.
They're currently fifth with 13 points from 11 fixtures, only a point behind fourth-placed MI, who have played one game more. DC's three remaining fixtures are against fellow top-four aspirants GT, MI and PBKS.
It is learnt that Mustafizur was informed of being picked by the Delhi Capitals only on Wednesday, as the decision to sign him was made rather hastily, even before he could formally request a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the BCB.
Meanwhile, BCB is waiting for government directives regarding their tour of Pakistan after the PCB sent a proposed schedule. Their initial plan was disrupted when the PSL was rescheduled.
Even if the BCB gets a green signal from the government regarding the directives for the Pakistan tour, holding the series could still prove to be a challenge. As things stand, the Board is also expected to have detailed discussions with the players and support staff, many of whom have expressed their reservations about touring Pakistan.
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