Lahore Qalandars Sign Mustafizur Rahman for PSL 11th Edition with a Record-Breaking Deal

Lahore Qalandars, a franchise of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), announced on Thursday that they had directly signed Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the tournament’s eleventh edition. The move came after spending over Rs60 million and netting him from Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Mustafizur, known for his variations and death-over bowling, was a notable draft pick by Lahore Qalandars in 2016 and again in 2018. His latest stint with the team marked a return to his roots, as he had previously been part of the franchise.

The IPL draft saw Mustafizur acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 9.20 crore in December. He was the only Bangladesh player signed for the season. KKR released him following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), amid strained relations between India and Bangladesh.

These tensions included reports of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh, which led to Bangladesh’s ban on IPL broadcasts within the country. The Bangladesh Cricket Board requested ICC to relocate T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. Although the request was denied, replacing Bangladesh with Scotland, Mustafizur’s performance and experience were significant for Lahore Qalandars.

Previously a part of the PSL for Lahore Qalandars, Mustafizur has played in multiple IPL seasons since 2016, taking over 60 wickets. His return to the franchise underlines his strong connection with the team and underscores the club’s commitment to maintaining its roster of international talent.