Mustafizur Rahman’s pockets will be lighter by INR 7.12 crore. The left-arm fast bowler from Bangladesh had attracted a whopping INR 9.20 crore bid from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on December 16. Mustafizur was Bangladesh’s most expensive player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) by quite a distance.
But destiny had it otherwise. About two weeks later, on January 3, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed KKR to release him from their squad.
It turned out to be the first domino to fall, as his release had a seismic impact on world cricket in the last month. It has led to Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup 2026, and now, Pakistan is boycotting India at the event.
Mustafizur Rahman to play PSL 2026
Amid all of this, Mustafizur has signed a deal with the Lahore Qalandars. Having played for 3-time champions before, the left-arm pacer will return to Pakistan in May. Qalandars have announced Mustafizur as their PSL 2026 direct signing for PKR 6.44 crore (approximately INR 2.08 crore).
Mustafizur was first picked by Qalandars in 2016 but couldn’t play due to a shoulder injury. He returned in 2018, where he took 4 wickets in 5 matches.
“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. 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,” Sameen Rana, the Qalandars owner, said.
Qalandars had retained captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza, and Mohammad Naeem. Going into the PSL 2026 auction, which will be held on February 11, the Qalandars have a purse of PKR 37.8 crore.
