Pakistan Super League signs Bangladesh’s Mustafizur after IPL controversy

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A Pakistan club has signed the Bangladesh fast bowler whose removal from the Indian Premier League sparked the crisis at the Twenty20 World Cup.

Lahore Qalandars signed Mustafizur Rahman for $230,000 in a draft that allows Pakistan Super League franchises to select one player before the Feb. 11 auction.

Mustafizur was bought for $1 million by the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders, but on Jan. 3 the Board of Control for Cricket in India ordered Kolkata to release Mustafizur without a public explanation but amid regional tensions.

That outraged Bangladesh and the cricket board asked to shift its T20 World Cup games from India to co-host Sri Lanka because of “security concerns.” The International Cricket Council refused, rejected the reason, and cut Bangladesh from the tournament.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, which supported Bangladesh, accused the ICC of double standards and its government ordered Pakistan not to play India in the T20 World Cup which starts on Saturday. Pakistan-India matches are huge money-spinners for the ICC.

Mustafizur was drafted by Lahore for a third time since the PSL started in 2016.

“Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar,” Lahore owner Sameen Rana said in a statement. “Mustafizur is not just a player; he’s a brother, a key part of our family who never left … his talent, experience, and dedication will be invaluable as we aim to defend our title.”

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket