Bangladesh pacer likely to pull out of Pakistan Super League

Published January 26, 2016
BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon said there is hardly any chance for Mustafizur to feature in Pakistan Super League. —AFP/File
BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon said there is hardly any chance for Mustafizur to feature in Pakistan Super League. —AFP/File

Bangladesh medium pacer Mustafizur Rahman is expected to pull out of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to lack of fitness, a Bangladesh daily reported on Tuesday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan on Tuesday said it was highly unlikely that Mustafizur would feature in Pakistan’s inaugural T20 league tournament as the Tigers wanted to minimise the left-armers workload before the World T20 in March.

The pacer was signed up by Lahore Qalandar’s from the Gold category for $50,000 during the PSL draft held on December 22.

The BCB board will decide about a financial compensation to the 20-year-old in a meeting soon.

“Mustafizur is physically not that strong. He is still working on building his muscles. He is very weak and reported some pain after the last match. It will be difficult for him to play outside in this condition. We will not take any chance on him before the ICC T20 World Cup,” Papon said.

“If he does get well soon he will play the Asia Cup, if he stays fit then he will play the World Cup, but I believe that in his current situation it is difficult to send him to play outside,” the BCB president added.

Mustafizur, who rose to international fame after picking 13 wickets in three ODIs against India in July last year, also made it to the ICC Team of the Year for 2015.

He is among four Bangladesh players picked in the PSL's draft, alongside Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim.

Another PSL outfit Quetta Gladiators have already lost the availability of Jason Holder as the West Indies Cricket Board did not issue him a NOC.

Three English players — Sam Billings, James Vince, and Chris Jordan — also pulled out as they have signed with a South African league.

Reports have also emerged that Lahore Qalandars’ Chris Gayle, one of the top PSL foreign recruits, is also uncertain to participate due to injury problems.

The inaugural edition of the PSL is scheduled to take place from February 4-23, 2016, in Dubai and Sharjah.

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