Mustafizur Rahman hit hard by IPL exile, joins PSL but takes massive 77% pay cut

Mustafizur Rahman will be pocketing nearly 77 per cent less than his IPL contract.

Updated on: Feb 5, 2026, 21:02:40 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who was removed from the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) early last month following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has signed a deal with Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars.

Mustafizur Rahman joined Lahore Qalandars (PTI)

The PSL franchise announced the direct signing on Thursday. “Our Bangladeshi brother Mustafizur, picked in 2016 and 2018, is now our direct signing and finally back with the family. Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar,” the announcement on Lahore Qalandars’ X account said.

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However, Mustafizur will be pocketing nearly 77 per cent less than his IPL contract. The pacer, known for his variations and death-overs bowling, was roped in by the Kolkata Knight Riders at the IPL mini-auction held in December for INR 9.2 crore, and was the only Bangladesh player to land an IPL contract for the 2026 season. At Lahore Qalandars, he will earn PKR 6.44 crore, which translates to approximately INR 2.08 crore, a pay cut of around 77.4 per cent.

Amid strained relations between India and Bangladesh, the BCCI ordered KKR to release Mustafizur from the squad on January 3, without offering any explanation.

In response, Bangladesh banned IPL broadcasts in the country, while the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift its T20 World Cup matches out of India, citing security concerns. The ICC repeatedly rejected the plea and even conducted an independent investigation that found no threat at the venues where Bangladesh were scheduled to play. The BCB, however, did not budge from its stance.

The ICC eventually removed Bangladesh from the World Cup, naming Scotland as its replacement.

This will be the second time Mustafizur will feature in the PSL, having previously played in the 2017–18 season, also for the Lahore-based franchise. He picked up four wickets in five matches at an economy rate of just 6.43.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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