Mustafizur Rahman Gets NOC to Join Delhi Capitals for IPL 2025, But Uncertainty Remains

Mustafizur Rahman has finally received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to participate in the remaining matches of IPL 2025. This clears the way for his return to India and rejoining the Delhi Capitals squad. However, there is still no clarity on whether he will be available for Delhi’s next game against Gujarat Titans on May 18.

Mustafizur was signed by Delhi Capitals as a replacement for Jake Fraser-McGurk, who chose to skip the second half of the season due to the delayed IPL restart and international commitments. The Capitals signed Mustafizur for ₹6 crore, expecting his left-arm pace to boost their bowling attack in the business end of the tournament.

The confusion began when Mustafizur travelled to the UAE with Bangladesh’s national team for the T20I series, without an official NOC to play in the IPL. At that point, the BCB said there had been no communication from either the player or the IPL franchise about granting permission.

However, the board has now cleared his participation. It came after discussions with the player and understanding Delhi’s interest in having him for the final league games and possible playoff matches. Even though the paperwork is sorted, match readiness and travel arrangements mean he might not play immediately.

The delay in the IPL 2025 season due to India-Pakistan tensions has caused a ripple effect, with several overseas players either skipping the remainder of the tournament or being replaced. Fraser-McGurk was among those who decided not to return, forcing Delhi to look for a quick fix.

Whether Mustafizur can fill that gap remains to be seen. The team management might wait to see how quickly he adjusts after national duty and international travel.