Amid rising controversy surrounding his participation in the Indian Premier League, Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has officially applied for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to join the Delhi Capitals, who signed him for a hefty sum of Rs 6 crore for the remainder of the season.
The situation sparked confusion when the BCB revealed on Wednesday that they had not been informed about Delhi’s decision to bring in Mustafizur as a replacement for Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk. The young pacer opted out of the tournament’s remainder following its temporary suspension caused by military tensions between India and Pakistan.
The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to play a two-match T20I series against UAE on May 17 and 19 in Sharjah. They will then reach Pakistan for a five-match series beginning on May 27. Rahman is part of the 16-member travelling squad which reached UAE on Wednesday.
With the IPL fixtures overlapping Bangladesh’s international commitments, uncertainty loomed over whether the 29-year-old left-arm seamer would be allowed to participate in the cash-rich tournament in India.
Mustafizur Rahman is back in 💙❤️ after two years!
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) May 14, 2025
He replaces Jake Fraser-McGurk who is unavailable for the rest of the season. pic.twitter.com/gwJ1KHyTCH
“Mustafizur is supposed to go with the team to the UAE according to the schedule. We have not received any communication from IPL officials,” BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury was quoted as saying by Bangladeshi daily The Daily Star on Wednesday.
A day later, Mustafizur, also known as Fizz among his teammates, had formally requested an NOC from the board. According to local media, Delhi Capitals also reached out to the BCB, requesting permission for Mustafizur to be available for matches on May 18, 21, and 24.
BCB Director Iftekhar Rahman clarified to the country’s media that while Mustafizur would be unavailable for the May 18 match due to national duty, he could be released to play in the final two matches.
“We have two games against the UAE on May 17 and 19. If he completes national duty, there will be no obstacle for him to play the remaining matches,” he said.
However, as a result of the alleged anti-India sentiment prevailing in Bangladesh since the regime change last year, many Indian cricket fans have expressed their displeasure over Rahman’s inclusion in the IPL. A boycott campaign against Delhi Capitals also gained traction on social media on Wednesday.
