Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : There is uncertainty surrounding Mustafizur Rahman’s participation in the 2024 IPL season as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has not yet sanctioned his release from national obligations. Mustafizur, now being a part of Bangladesh’s T20I squad to face UAE, was flown to Dubai on May 14 after being picked by Delhi Capitals to replace Jake Fraser-McGurk.
The BCB is considering the IPL opportunity versus national commitments while also dealing with a larger picture that includes conflicts such as the recent India Pakistan border tensions. This particular conflict has led to IPL and PSL schedule interruptions. Citing a report by Cricbuzz, the board needs to dodge diplomatic controversies with either the BCCI or the PCB, which appears to be aiming for a middle-ground.
The BCB is evaluating the situation stating, “We’re not saying we won’t let Mustafizur play, but definitely national commitment takes precedence. This might set a bad precedent to allow such flexibility which will be detrimental to Rishad Hossain and Nahid Rana who had also been participating in the PSL.”
The board has devised two plans for him:
Plan 1: Set Mustafizur free after the two-match UAE series.
Plan 2: Let him participate in the first T20I so he can contest in the clash between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans on May 18.
Given the second option, he may only be seen in three group stage matches and possibly in the playoffs, contingent on DC's qualification.
Delhi Capitals' Stance and Late Selection
Reports suggest that Mustafizur was only made aware of his IPL selection on May 14, meaning he was unable to file for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) with BCB. This latest development has left the franchise in limbo without further guidance.
As of now, Delhi Capitals are seated fifth in the IPL standings, grabbing 13 points from 11 clashes, and are still very much in contention for the playoffs. With Mustafizur joining Mitchell Starc and T Natarajan, they now have another left arm pace option.
New Layers of Complexity Added by the Pakistan Tour
Simultaneously, the BCB is waiting for a government decision on a planned trip to Pakistan that commences on May 27. There is action behind the scenes since several players and staff members are personally in favor of not traveling due to the security situation.
Mustafizur's return to IPL is contingent on the outcome of the UAE series and decisions concerning the Pakistan tour, thus making his availability for the rest of IPL 2024 uncertain.
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