Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) allows the left-arm pacer, Mustafizur Rahman to play the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.
Mustafizur Rahman is all set to play the 14th edition of IPL, starting from April 9. BCB has given the left-hander NOC to take part in the league happening in India. At an auction held in February, Rajasthan Royals bought him for INR 1 crore.
The 25-year-old pacer will not be a part of the Test series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, live in action on April 21. BCB chief selector, Minhajul Abedin suggested him to play IPL as he is not picked among the Test squad against Sri Lanka.
“We have given him NOC for IPL as he is not in our Test plans for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. It’s better if he plays there and gains some experience,”
Abedin said on Saturday as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Rajasthan Royals will start their campaign of the league on April 12th against Punjab Kings at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
“My first priority is to play for my country”
Earlier this decision, Rahman revealed that he would sacrifice anything for his country and he is ready to skip IPL. The left-arm pacer was denied the NOC before as BCB allowed its players to take part in two T20 leagues in a year
“My first priority is to play for my country and if I am picked in the Test series against Sri Lanka, I will naturally play. If I am not picked then BCB will tell me that I am not included. At that point, if I am given NOC to play in the IPL then I will play but patriotism comes first for me,”
said Mustafizur Rahman.
Recently, the Bangladesh all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan and BCB had a clash over his decision to play IPL over the Bangladesh Test series against Sri Lanka. Shakib replied that BCB has misinterpreted his decision and Akram Khan, Chairman of Cricket Operation, was misleading the information on media.
The meeting was held later between the members of BCB to reconsider the NOC of Shakib Al Hasan but in the end, the decision was upheld.
Shakib Al Hasan would be representing KKR in the 2021 edition of IPL, who bought him for INR 3.2 crore.