Mustafizur Rahman, the talented left-arm pacer from Bangladesh, has received a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to compete in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. His time with the Delhi Capitals (DC) is set between May 18 and 24, making his participation limited strictly to the league stage of the tournament.
Currently, the Bangladesh team is engaged in a series of two T20 matches against the UAE in Sharjah, scheduled for May 17 and 19. Notably, Mustafizur will be available for the first game against the UAE before transitioning to play for DC. Following this brief IPL engagement, he is expected to rejoin the national team in Pakistan for a five-match T20 series starting on May 25.
BCB has officially confirmed this arrangement, stating, “As per the decision of BCB Cricket Operations, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to national team pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman for his participation in the ongoing IPL 2025 in India, for the period from 18 – 24 May 2025.” They emphasized that Mustafizur will partake in Bangladesh’s first T20 international against the UAE on May 17.
Initially, Mustafizur was signed by DC as a replacement for Jake Fraser-McGurk, but there was some confusion regarding BCB’s awareness of his involvement in the IPL. Reports indicated that he would leave the Bangladesh team hotel after the opening match against the UAE to join the DC squad.
As the season of IPL resumes on May 17, DC is vying for a playoff position, currently standing fifth with 13 points from 11 matches. They trail the fourth-placed Mumbai Indians (MI) by just one point, having played one game more. Upcoming matches against formidable opponents like GT (on May 18), MI (on May 21), and PBKS (on May 24) will be critical for their playoff hopes. However, if DC advances to the playoffs, Mustafizur will likely miss out due to his commitments to the Bangladesh squad.
This development highlights the balancing act many international cricketers face between league participation and national duties, showcasing their commitment to both club and country.