Rangpur Riders coach Mickey Arthur has described Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the Indian Premier League (IPL) as “disappointing” but praised the Bangladeshi pacer for remaining focused on the field. Despite being bought for a record price by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mustafizur will not feature in the tournament this season after the franchise dropped him on the directive of the BCCI, sparking widespread debate across Bangladesh’s sporting circles.
The 30-year-old bowler has continued to impress in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), delivering consistently strong performances. Rangpur captain Nurul Hasan Sohan said Mustafizur remains “completely unfazed” by off-field controversies, while batting coach Mohammad Ashraful described him as being in a “chill mood” and fully focused.
After Rangpur’s training session in Sylhet, Arthur reiterated his praise: “Fiz [Mustafizur] is a thoroughly professional cricketer. We know his standard as a bowler—he is as good as anyone in the world. He is a true team player and a humble person. Managing him is never an issue. He comes to the field every day and gives his all.”
Commenting on Mustafizur’s IPL exit, Arthur added: “It is very disappointing. He had secured a strong contract with KKR, and the way it ended is disheartening. We talked briefly about it, and despite some language barriers, he understood me and I understood him. We’ve put it behind us and moved forward.”
Several Bangladesh squad members for the upcoming T20 World Cup are training with Rangpur, and Arthur praised their talent: “There are many skilled players here. Those going to the World Cup are extremely capable. Getting to know Liton Das as captain has been fantastic. Tauhid Hridoy is an exceptional player, a modern batter. Between Fiz and our captain Sohan, the way they lead and prepare the team is remarkable. I will definitely keep a close eye on them during the tournament.”
Earlier, in the IPL mini-auction, KKR purchased Mustafizur for a record BDT 12.6 crore, the highest among Bangladeshi players. On the BCCI’s instruction, he was released last Saturday, a decision that has dominated cricket discussions since. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has informed the ICC that the national team will not play in India for the upcoming T20 World Cup due to security concerns, and IPL broadcasts have been suspended in Bangladesh.
