Lahore, April 14: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has imposed a two-year ban on Zimbabwean fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani. This decision comes after Muzarabani opted to leave the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Initially, no franchise in either the IPL or PSL had acquired the 29-year-old player. However, Islamabad United later signed him as a replacement player. Despite this, Muzarabani chose to abandon his team to participate in the IPL, where he was brought in to replace Mustafizur Rahman.
Due to directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and other external factors, KKR released Mustafizur, allowing Muzarabani to join the team shortly after confirming his signing.
In a statement, the PCB announced, “After a thorough disciplinary review, we declare that Zimbabwean cricketer Blessing Muzarabani is ineligible to play in the next two seasons of the PSL. This decision is effective immediately. Attempting to back out of such commitments without valid reasons violates contractual obligations and the principles governing goodwill in global professional sports.”
Last year, the PCB also banned Corbin Bosch for a year, emphasizing the need for such penalties to maintain the professional environment of the PSL. The league is committed to ensuring that it remains a platform where contractual certainty is respected and where the actions of all players and agents align with the tournament’s reputation.
Muzarabani has played two matches for KKR in IPL 2026, taking four wickets. Alongside him, Spencer Johnson and Dasun Shanaka have also withdrawn from the PSL to participate in this season’s IPL, but no penalties have been announced for them as of now.
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