Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman will have to sit out eight days’ play in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026), as he has been summoned back to the international side. The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed this on Thursday. This move is part of a precisely calculated roster that takes into account the team’s international commitments.
Pakistan Series – Split Around PSL
A senior BCB official has been told that the Bangladesh tour of Pakistan will come in two phases because of the Pakistan Super League scheduled to be held in March.
Important aspects of the new timetable:
- Pakistan is going to face two Test matches and three ODIs against Bangladesh
The originally scheduled T20 Internationals have been abandoned as both teams have played a three-match T20I series in June this year. The ODI series was offered to be played before PSL by Bangladesh, while the Test series will be held in the month of May after PSL concludes.
BCB cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedin has confirmed that the series format had to be divided both before and after the PSL window.
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Cricbuzz earlier reported that Mustafizur Rahman, who was picked by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), would not be available for the entire season of the IPL, as he has a three-match series to play for Bangladesh against New Zealand, which clashes with the scheduling of the IPL.
However, the BCB has given Mustafizur a No Objection Certificate for the IPL. He will be able to play in the tournament, except for the ODIs that will be played against New Zealand.
Why Bangladesh are recalling Mustafizur
Nazmul Abedin emphasized that Mustafizur’s comeback is necessary given the level of importance involved in the current ODI series:
- Currently, Bangladesh ranks 10th among teams in ICC ODI ranking
- Played only nine ODI matches in 2025, and won only three of them
A rank among the top eight is imperative for a direct spot at the ODI World Cup in South Africa in 2027. Mustafizur Rahman is slated to return for eight days to participate in all three ODIs against New Zealand.
IPL Experience Hailed as Performance Enhancer
The BCB feels that Mustafizur Rahman will actually improve his form in the IPL prior to their match with New Zealand.
Nazmul continued, “While it’s true that it’s quite a transition to go from T20s to ODIs, playing and competing in an environment as intense as Mustafizur’s exposure to elite-level competition may improve his performance when he returns.”
Lessons from Past Risk-Taking
Nazmul mentioned that Bangladesh previously released Mustafizur for the IPL, and the consequences were that they lost a T20I series to the UAE. Ironically, the long-term advantages will supersede the short-term loss.
According to the BCB:
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Mustafizur returned from the IPL a transformed bowler
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His improved performances later benefited the national team
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Strategic risks are necessary for long-term success
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