Lahore Qalandars directly sign Mustafizur Rehman for PSL 11

Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars have directly signed Mustafizur Rehman for the upcoming season. Mustafizur, who played five matches for the Qalandars in the third edition of the PSL, has been signed for PKR 64.4 million ahead of the player auction on February 11.

Mustafizur picked for PKR 64.4 million

Lahore Qalandars announced the signing through their social media handle, welcoming the pacer on his return to the league.

"Our Bangladeshi brother, Mustafizur Rahman, picked in 2016 and 2018, is now our direct signing and finally back with the family. Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar," the post read.

Following Mustafizur’s induction, Qalandars have now spent PKR 191.4 million, including PKR 127 million spent on their retentions, which were announced on February 3.

Mustafizur-BCCI row

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), amid a number of landmark changes, allowed teams to sign one foreign player not part of PSL X ahead of the auction. Mustafizur was originally set to play in the IPL during the same window, but worsening political ties between India and Bangladesh forced his exclusion from the league.

Picked by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the mini-auction, the Bangladesh pacer was released on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) instructions.

This move triggered a series of events which culminated in Bangladesh’s ouster from the T20 World Cup and Pakistan's decision to boycott their clash against India on February 15.

ALSO READ:

PSL 11 retentions: Qalandars release Haris Rauf ahead of player auction- IPL