Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani will not play for Islamabad United in 2026 PSL after securing a deal in the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). ESPNcricinfo understands that Muzarabani has informed Islamabad of his decision to withdraw, with KKR confirming the signing on Friday.
Muzarabani comes into the side after KKR were instructed by the BCCI in December to release Bangladesh left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman after he was bought at the 2026 auction for INR 9.2 crore (US $ 1.02 million approx.). Mustafizur has since been signed by Lahore Qalandars in the PSL which starts from March 26, two days before IPL.
Muzarabani, who has won a PSL title before with Multan Sultans, was initially unpicked at the PSL auction on February 11. However, a deal was later reached with Islamabad as a direct signing after they let go of West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph.
With the PSL and IPL running concurrently for the second year, this is the second successive time that a player initially signed by a PSL team has ended up at the IPL. South Africa allrounder Corbin Bosch was signed as a Diamond Pick by Peshawar Zalmi last year, but was later snapped up as an injury replacement by Mumbai Indians. Bosch's withdrawal from the PSL ended with the PSL slapping a one-season ban on him. ESPNcricinfo has reached out to the PSL to enquire if a similar penalty will apply to Muzarabani.
Muzarabani had an outstanding T20 World Cup, where Zimbabwe topped their group and reached the Super Eight. He ended up just one wicket shy of jointly topping the charts, taking 13 in six matches. Four of them came in a crushing win over Australia early on.