Muzarabani set to withdraw from PSL after signing an IPL deal with KKR

Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani has withdrawn from the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he was snapped up by Islamabad United. 

Muzarabani juggling league contracts

Muzarabani, who went unsold in the PSL 11 auction but was later signed directly as Shamar Joseph’s replacement, has struck a deal with the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The young pacer will join KKR as a replacement for Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rehman, who was released by the franchise on the advice of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision was understandably taken due to strained political relations between the two countries.

With the PSL and the IPL running concurrently this year, Muzarabani has given up his contract worth PKR 11 million with Islamabad.

Would there be any repercussions?

This is the second instance when a player has done so, with South Africa’s Corbin Bosch terminating his Peshawar Zalmi contract in the PSL midway last year after bagging a deal with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

Bosch was slapped with a one-year ban by the PSL, and while the league has not officially disclosed whether it will treat Muzarabani the same way, reports suggest the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering legal action.

Muzarabani comes off a stellar T20 World Cup campaign where his four-wicket haul led Zimbabwe to a historic win over Australia in the group stages. In total, he took 13 wickets and finished as the tournament’s joint-second highest wicket-taker.

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