Dhaka, Feb 05 (V7N) — Lahore Qalandars have signed Bangladeshi pace star Mustafizur Rahman on a direct contract ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, even before the official player auction.

The franchise confirmed the signing in a Facebook post on Thursday (February 5), stating that they spent 64.4 million Pakistani rupees on the left-arm fast bowler, which amounts to more than Tk 28.1 million in Bangladeshi currency.

In an official statement, Lahore Qalandars said:

“Our Bangladeshi brother, Mustafizur Rahman, who was selected in 2016 and 2018, is now directly contracted with us and has finally returned to his family. Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar.”

Earlier, on January 6, the PSL’s official social media account welcomed Mustafizur to the league, posting:

“Batters beware… Now the Fiz is going to start a new chapter. Mustafiz is joining the 11th edition of the PSL.”

Mustafizur was previously picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for ₹6 crore in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the franchise later released him from the squad ahead of the upcoming IPL season.

In protest, Bangladesh reportedly decided not to participate in the T20 World Cup hosted in India, citing security concerns and proposing Sri Lanka as a neutral venue. The International Cricket Council (ICC), however, rejected the proposal, resulting in Bangladesh being excluded from the tournament. Although Pakistan will not play any matches against India in the World Cup, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has stated that politics should not interfere with sports.

It is worth noting that Lahore Qalandars are the defending champions of the PSL. Several Bangladeshi cricketers featured for the franchise last season, including Shakib Al Hasan, Rishad Hossain, and Mehedi Hasan Miraj.

END/SMA/AJ