Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who faced an unceremonious exit from the Indian Premier League after being released by KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders), has been signed by Lahore Qalandars as a direct signing on Thursday. Rahman's ouster from the tournament triggered a sharp reaction from the Bangladesh Cricket Board, as it refused to travel to India for the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup.
The sequence of events forced Bangladesh to withdraw from the tournament after the ICC denied their requests, finding no grounds to change the schedule. It also gave Pakistan an opportunity for a selective pullout from the marquee fixture against India.
The BCCI (Board of Cricket Control in India) did not specify any reason for Mustafizur's removal from KKR's roster, but many pointed out the strained diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh after the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh as a reason.
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Bangladesh pulled out, stating security apprehensions, even though the International Cricket Council assessed a low threat level for the tournament set to be held in India and Sri Lanka. The government of Pakistan declared a boycott of the match against India in solidarity with Bangladesh.
Rahman, originally picked by the Qalandars in 2016 and 2018, is now set to don the Qalandars' colours once more. The signing was agreed at PKR 6.44 crore (roughly Rs 2 crore in INR).
"Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar. Mustafizur is not just a player; he's a brother, a key part of our family who never left," said Sameen Rana, Owner, Lahore Qalandars.
Lahore Qalandars Signings:
Earlier, Qalandars had retained captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, key batter Abdullah Shafique, dynamic all-rounder Sikandar Raza, and skilled youngster Mohammad Naeem.
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Rahman's signing strengthens the team's core ahead of the big auction and sets the stage for a strong campaign.
Inputs from Agency