Bangladesh blocks return of high-profile pacers Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana to Pakistan Super League

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has blocked the return to two high-profile pacers to the ongoing Pakistan Super League in yet another example of the board's shift under the recently-elected Tarique Rahman-led government. Pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Nahid Rana were representing Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi respectively in the 11th season of the PSL when they were recalled by the BCB for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand that took place from 17 to 23 April.

Mustafizur and Nahid ended up playing an important role in the Bangla Tigers' come-from-behind 2-1 series victory. Both pacers collected a five-wicket haul in a match-winning effort and Nahid was later adjudged the Player of the Series for finishing as the leading wicket-taker (8 wickets; average: 16.75).

Why 'Fizz', Nahid have been asked to stay back by BCB

The Bangladeshi quicks, however, will not be linking up with their PSL franchises anytime soon. In an official release, the board revealed that Mustafizur faces an injury risk and will be undergoing immediate scans which will be followed by a rehabilitation programme under the supervision of the BCB's medical team.

More from Firstcricket

"In this regard, the Board has withdrawn the No Objection Certificate (NOC) previously issued to Mustafizur. He will therefore not be available to participate in the remainder of PSL 2026," read a statement from the board, which is currently managed by an ad-hoc committee led by batting icon Tamim Iqbal.

Nahid, meanwhile, has been held back in order to give him enough time to rest ahead of a two-match Test series against Pakistan that gets underway at Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Stadium on 8 May.

Before being called back home Mustafizur and Nahid had made five and four appearances respectively for their franchises in the ongoing PSL, which is taking place behind closed doors in Lahore and Karachi.

While Nahid is playing his first PSL season, veteran left-arm quick Mustafizur is making his first appearance in the Pakistani T20 league in nearly a decade, having also made five appearance for the Qalandars in the 2017-18 season.

Mustafizur had initially been acquired by Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 9.2 crore in the mini auction in December, but was controversially released from the franchise less than a month later in January due to communal unrest in Bangladesh and political tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka.

The BCB, which was led by Aminul Islam Bulbul at the time, retaliated by refusing to send the Litton Das-led 15-man squad to India for the T20 World, which ultimately led to Bangladesh getting replaced by Scotland in Group C.