MI loses another pacer, Mustafizur Rahman to miss IPL 2020

Dhaka:The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has denied pacer Mustafizur Rahman a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to play in the IPL 2020, in view of the national side's scheduled tour of Sri Lanka beginning next month. 

According to a Cricbuzz report, the left-arm pacer was approached by Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders for the upcoming IPL season in the UAE, both of whom had one of their pacers withdraw from the squad. 

While Mumbai Indians replaced Lasith Malinga with James Pattinson, KKR are yet to find a replacement for Harry Gurney.

However, BCB refused the NOC since Bangladesh are set to tour Sri Lanka for a three-match Test series scheduled to start on October 24, at a time when IPL will be played in the UAE.

''Yes, he (Mustafizur) had an offer from the IPL but we did not give him NOC as we have the Sri Lanka tour coming up,'' BCB cricket operation chairman Akram Khan was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Friday.

However, Rahman hasn't been in Bangladesh's Test plans since March 2019. He took 20 wickets in the 2019 World Cup, after which he has only played ODIs and T20Is for Bangladesh. In 13 Tests since 2015, Rahman has picked 28 wickets.

The 24-year-old last played in the IPL in 2018, turning out for Mumbai Indians. In seven matches that season, he picked seven wickets at an average of 32.85 and an economy rate of 8.36. 

He had returned from his stint in 2018 with an injury, after which BCB president Nazmul Hassan had said he won't be allowed any more NOCs to participate in overseas leagues.(UNI)