Shock to KKR: Mustafizur Rahman out for 8 days in the middle of IPL, know what is the real reason

Mustafizur Rahman: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Mustafizur Rahman will be unavailable for 8 days during the upcoming IPL season. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has clarified that Mustafizur will have to return home for the crucial ODI series against New Zealand.

Why is the New Zealand series so important?

The Bangladesh team is currently ranked 10th in the ICC ODI rankings. To qualify directly for the 2027 ODI World Cup, Bangladesh needs to be in the top 8. This 3-match series against New Zealand is crucial for improving their ranking. Considering this, the BCB has asked Mustafizur to take an 8-day break for national duty.

Balancing IPL and National Duty

BCB's Cricket Operations Chairman, Nazmul Abedeen, said, "We have given Mustafizur an NOC for the entire IPL, but he will return for 8 days for the New Zealand series. We believe that playing in a competitive environment like the IPL will help him perform better against New Zealand."

Changes to the Pakistan Series Schedule

Along with the news about Mustafizur, the BCB also provided an update on the Pakistan series. This series will now be played in two parts:

• First part: Before the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
• Second part: After the PSL concludes. According to the schedule, two Tests and three ODIs will be played between the two countries. Previously, the series also included T20Is, but these have been removed as both teams played a T20 series last year.

The BCB believes that taking this risk is necessary. In the past, Mustafizur's game improved significantly after being released for the IPL. The board hopes that this time too, 'Fizz' will bring back valuable experience from the IPL and help Bangladesh win the series against New Zealand, keeping their World Cup hopes alive.