IPL 2024: No Mustafizur for CSK's next match; Likely to be available till April end

Mustafizur Rahman, the talented pacer from Bangladesh, is set to miss the upcoming game for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2024. His absence stems from his urgent trip to Bangladesh to expedite his US Visa processing, a necessary step ahead of the much-anticipated T20 World Cup 2024 scheduled to take place in the Caribbean and the United States in June.

Source reveals “His NOC for the tournament runs till April 30…”

With CSK’s next match being an away encounter against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, April 5, Mustafizur’s return hinges on the swift processing of his visa and the subsequent retrieval of his passport. However, there’s uncertainty looming over his availability for the subsequent game against the Kolkata Knight Riders, slated for Monday, April 8, as his return might be cutting it close.

Confirming Mustafizur’s visa-related trip, Jalal Yunus, the chairman of BCB’s cricket operations, stated to Cricbuzz that the pacer arrived last night from the IPL solely for the purpose of processing his US visa ahead of the T20 World Cup. “His NOC for the tournament runs till April 30 and we are expecting him to back after that from IPL,” he added.

He is scheduled to provide his fingerprints at the US embassy on April 4 before returning to India to rejoin the Chennai Super Kings.

Mustafizur’s absence can impact CSK

Mustafizur has been a standout performer for CSK in IPL 2024, having already bagged seven wickets in just three matches, placing him at the top of the bowling leaderboard. His impactful spell of 4-29 in the opening game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, followed by a commendable 2-30 performance against the Gujarat Titans, played pivotal roles in CSK’s victories. Despite a slightly expensive outing against the Delhi Capitals, where he conceded 47 runs for one wicket, Mustafizur’s prowess as a skilled bowler remains undeniable.

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However, Mustafizur’s stint in the IPL is limited until the end of April, as he is slated to join the national team for their upcoming five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe commencing on May 3. Thus, his availability for CSK will be restricted to the initial phase of the tournament, adding an extra layer of significance to his contributions in the matches he features in.