The debate of National duties over the Indian Premier League continues and this time Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has got caught himself in it. The Bangladeshi pacer is willing to put national duty as his priority over the upcoming edition of the T20 extravaganza.
Bangladesh is supposed to play a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka during the course of IPL for which the Bangladesh board had recently given the NOC to all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who has been bought by KKR to play this season.
However, BCB was awaiting a response from Mustafizur on his call about the NOC from the board and if he is willing to apply for it. Meanwhile, the pacer has said that he is not ready to skip the Test series against Sri Lanka at the expense of IPL and he stated that “I will do what BCB asks me to do.”
He further said, “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.”
Earlier this month, Mustafizur was picked by Rajasthan Royals franchise at his base price of INR 1 crore during this year’s mini-auction. The pacer will be returning to the Indian league after a leap of two seasons.
Last September, BCB declined Mustafizur a NOC as they had policy citing to allow Bangladeshi players to take part in only two franchise-based T20 tournaments per year. Now it seems, BCB has loosened its stand on the policy that is crystal-clear after Shakib’s NOC saga.