Mustafizur Rahman and Five Others Face PSL 2026 Uncertainty Over Bangladesh Government Clearance
The participation of six Bangladesh cricketers in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 is currently uncertain. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has mandated that final approval hinges entirely on government security clearance due to ongoing regional tensions.
Security Concerns Halt Automatic NOCs
A total of six players from Bangladesh were initially granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) following the league’s inaugural player auction: Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, and Rishad Hossain. However, evolving geopolitical situations involving Pakistan and Afghanistan have prompted the BCB to reconsider its standard clearance procedures.
BCB cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedin confirmed the board will withhold final travel authorization until they receive a definitive security briefing from national authorities.
“We will seek permission from the government before sending our cricketers for the PSL,” Abedin stated. “Under normal circumstances, these things are not required. We provide clearance; they go, play, and return. But since the situation is not normal and there is a risk element concerning the players, obviously we will discuss it with the government.”
Abedin emphasized that the government is better equipped to assess the ground realities in Pakistan. “If the government tells us that it is safe to go and the players can travel, then the players will go. In principle, we have decided that we will give the NOC, but it depends on the situation at that time,” he told ESPNcricinfo.
Schedule Conflicts with New Zealand Series
Should the players receive government clearance, their PSL commitments will intersect with Bangladesh’s preparatory camps and a bilateral home series against the New Zealand national team. The upcoming International Cricket Council schedule includes three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) against the Black Caps next month.
To balance franchise opportunities with national duties, the BCB has structured partial NOC windows for the selected players.
Player NOC Windows and National Availability
| Player | NOC Window | Availability vs New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Mustafizur Rahman (Lahore Qalandars) | March 26 – April 12 & April 24 – May 3 | Available for ODIs; Misses T20Is |
| Parvez Hossain Emon | Cleared until April 21 | Available for T20Is |
| Tanzid Hasan Tamim | Cleared until April 12 | Available for both formats |
| Shoriful Islam | Cleared until April 12 | Available for both formats |
| Nahid Rana | Cleared until April 12 | Available for both formats |
| Rishad Hossain | Cleared until April 12 | Available for both formats |
Mustafizur Rahman holds a split NOC that permits his participation in the ODI leg of the New Zealand series while ruling him out of the T20I matches. The remaining players are expected to return in time to complete their white-ball national obligations.
Ultimately, these structured NOCs remain provisional. The BCB has made it clear that player safety supersedes franchise commitments, leaving the final decision squarely in the hands of the Bangladesh government.