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  "path": "/news/1971235/lahore-qalandars-directly-sign-bangladesh-pacer-mustafizur-rehman-for-over-rs60m",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-05T09:40:21.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.dawn.com",
  "tags": [
    "Sport",
    "registered",
    "release",
    "strained relations",
    "banned IPL broadcasts",
    "requested",
    "rejected",
    "replacing"
  ],
  "textContent": "Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Lahore Qalandars announced on Thursday that it had directly signed Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman for PSL’s 11th edition, spending over Rs60 million.\n\n“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.\n\n“Amount spent on DS: PKR6.44 crore,” the announcement on Lahore Qalandar’s X account said.\n\n> \n\n* * *\n\nMustafizur had registered for the PSL draft in early January, following his release from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad for the Indian Premier League (IPL).\n\nThe 30-year-old left-arm pacer, known for his variations and death-over bowling, was acquired by KKR for INR 9.20 crore in the IPL mini-auction held in December.\n\nHe was the only Bangladesh player signed for the season.\n\nKKR announced his release after receiving instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).\n\nThe decision came amid strained relations between India and Bangla­desh, linked to reports of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh.\n\nIn response, Bangladesh banned IPL broadcasts in the country and the Bangladesh Cricket Board requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.\n\nICC, however, rejected the request, replacing Bangladesh with Scotland in the 20-team tournament.\n\nMustafizur, who has played in multiple IPL seasons since 2016 and taken over 60 wickets in the league, previously also featured in the PSL for Lahore Qalandars.",
  "title": "Lahore Qalandars directly sign Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rehman for over Rs60m"
}