Delhi Capitals (DC) have received a timely boost with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) granting No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Mustafizur Rahman, confirming his availability for the league stage of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025).
The BCB’s decision follows initial uncertainty as Mustafizur’s commitments to Bangladesh’s T20I series against the UAE, starting May 17 and Pakistan, beginning on May 25, clashed with the schedule of IPL 2025.
Notably, the IPL will resume on May 17 following a week-long suspension due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. As several overseas players, including Mitchell Starc and Jake Fraser-McGurk, opted out citing security concerns, DC signed Mustafizur Rahman as a temporary replacement.
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BCB Gives Clearance to Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2025
The BCB granted Mustafizur a No Objection Certificate for May 18-24, covering DC’s final league matches against Gujarat Titans (May 18), Mumbai Indians (May 21) and Punjab Kings (May 24), though his availability for the playoffs remains unlikely.
He will join the squad on May 18 after playing the first T20 against the UAE on May 17. His availability for the match against Gujarat Titans, scheduled on the same day as his arrival, is uncertain.
"As per the decision of BCB Cricket Operations, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to national team pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman for his participation in the ongoing IPL 2025 in India, for the period from 18 - 24 May 2025," BCB said as quoted in a press release.
"It may also be noted that Mustafizur is available for Bangladesh's first T20 international against the UAE scheduled on 17 May 2025 in Sharjah," it added.
Mustafizur, signed for INR 6 crore as a replacement for Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, who withdrew due to personal reasons, brings vital experience to DC’s bowling attack. The left-arm seamer, known for his crafty cutters and pace variation, previously played for DC in 2022 and 2023, claiming eight wickets in eight matches in 2022 with an economy rate of 7.63.
He represented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) previous year and bagged 14 wickets in nine innings.
Mustafizur’s inclusion is particularly critical following the withdrawal of ace pacer Starc, leaving DC in need of a reliable pacer.
Doubts Over Faf du Plessis' Availability
After Starc and Fraser-McGurk, Donovan Ferreira also decided to skip the second phase of IPL 2025. Though earlier reports suggested that Faf du Plessis will also not return to India, he has seemed to change his mind and will join the DC camp soon as per the latest update.
The Capitals are currently at the fifth position on the IPL 2025 points table with 13 points. They have a chance at making the playoffs if they win two out of their remaining three games. Three wins will officially confirm their place in the playoffs.
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