IPL 2021: BCB grants Mustafizur Rahman NOC for the tournament

Mustafizur Rahman is all set to take part in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting April 9. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has provided him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the tournament in India. In the auction back in February, Rajasthan Royals (RR) roped in the Satkhira-born speedster at his base price of INR 1 crore.

The 25-year-old isn’t a part of the Test series against Sri Lanka that gets underway on April 21. Minhajul Abedin, the BCB’s chief selector, reckons that it’s better for Mustafizur to play in the IPL since he isn’t a part of Bangladesh’s Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour.

“We have given him NOC for IPL as he is not in our Test plans for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. It’s better if he plays there and gains some experience,” Abedin was quoted as saying on Saturday, March 27, reported by Cricbuzz. The Royals would be playing their first game on April 12 against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

My first priority is to play for my country: Mustafizur Rahman

Earlier, Mustafizur said that he was ready to skip the IPL and would prioritize his country. Last year, the pacer was denied a NOC as the BCB only allowed its players to take part in two franchise-based T20 tournaments in a year.

“My first priority is to play for my country and if I am picked in the Test series against Sri Lanka, I will naturally play. If I am not picked then BCB will tell me that I am not included. At that point, if I am given NOC to play in the IPL then I will play but patriotism comes first for me,” Mustafizur had said.

Recently, the BCB and Shakib Al Hasan were at loggerheads after the latter picked the IPL over representing Bangladesh in Test cricket. Shakib said that his letter to the board was misinterpreted and Akram Khan, the BCB cricket operation chairman, was misleading the media.

Later Khan talked about reconsidering the NOC given to Shakib. However, in the end, the Magura-born’s NOC was upheld. Shakib would be representing the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who bagged him for INR 3.2 crores.

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