NEW DELHI: Not long after stepping away from the Pakistan Super League to pursue a spot in the Indian Premier League, Zimbabwe pace bowler Blessing Muzarabani has been hit with a two-year ban. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the punishment on Tuesday, bringing an abrupt end to his PSL plans and throwing fresh light on the circumstances behind his switch between leagues.
Key takeaways
- Blessing Muzarabani has received a two-year ban issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
- The PCB’s decision bars him from participating in the Pakistan Super League for the duration of the ban.
- Muzarabani had agreed to play for Islamabad United in PSL 2026 before later withdrawing.
- Kolkata Knight Riders then signed him as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman ahead of IPL 2026.
- Mustafizur Rahman was released from KKR’s IPL squad following instructions from the BCCI.
Why the Pakistan Cricket Board acted
Weeks earlier, Muzarabani had removed his name from the PSL, choosing instead to pursue participation in the Indian Premier League. However, the PCB’s statement made it clear it viewed his actions as a breach of commitments. The board said that even though there was a clear offer and an unambiguous acceptance of the key terms, the player chose not to honour those obligations because of a conflicting arrangement, as quoted in a report.
Muzarabani’s league switches: PSL 2026 to IPL 2026
In the lead-up to PSL 2026, the Zimbabwe pacer had accepted a deal with Islamabad United. After agreeing to the terms, he later backed out and moved to sign with Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2026.
KKR subsequently brought Muzarabani into their squad as a replacement for Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. Earlier, KKR had released Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL team setup after receiving instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to do so.
Mustafizur Rahman had been purchased at the 2026 auction by KKR for Rs 9.2 crore.
