Mustafizur will be unavailable for the IPL for eight days

A BCB official confirmed the Pakistan series, comprising two Tests and three ODIs, will occur in two phases around March’s Pakistan Super League. Since T20Is were played in June, only Tests and ODIs remain, potentially scheduling the ODIs before the PSL and Tests in May.

Meanwhile, operations chairman Nazmul Abedin addressed Mustafizur Rahman’s schedule. Although granted an IPL NOC for Kolkata Knight Riders, the pacer will return for eight days to play three vital ODIs against New Zealand. Sitting tenth in rankings, Bangladesh desperately requires victories for direct 2027 World Cup qualification.

Nazmul insisted the intense IPL environment would actually sharpen Mustafizur for these internationals. He defended balancing both franchise and national commitments by citing a past scenario: releasing Mustafizur for the IPL caused a series loss to the UAE, yet the bowler's subsequent improvement proved that taking such calculated strategic risks ultimately strengthens the national team’s future performance levels.