Blessing Muzarabani, a fast bowler from Zimbabwe, was banned from the Pakistan Super League for two years after abruptly withdrawing from the competition to join the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL.
Muzarabani went unsold in both the IPL and PSL auctions before being signed as a substitute player by Islamabad United. In order to join the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and replace Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, who was pulled from the competition owing to a BCCI mandate, he gave up his PSL contract.
“In this instance, despite a clear offer and an unequivocal acceptance of essential terms, the player chose to disregard these obligations in favour of a conflicting arrangement,” PCB said in a statement.
In another such incident in 2025, South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch was suspended one year in the PSL after he had renounced his Peshawar Zalmi contract when Mumbai Indians required an injured replacement to Lizaad Williams. Also, Dasun Shanaka and Spencer Johnson lost their PSL deals to play in the 2026 season to sign with the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings respectively.
“Professionalism in franchise-based leagues requires participants to act with transparency and consistency. Entering into a conflicting engagement while a prior binding agreement subsists represents a departure from the expected standards of the game. Such conduct, if left unaddressed, erodes the reliability of dealings and the confidence that franchises, regulators, and stakeholders place in professional engagements,” read a statement from the PSL.
Muzarabani joined IPL after receiving an incredible T20 world cup where he took 13 wickets with a record of 4/21 against Australia and took Zimbabwe to Super 8s stage. In his two games with the Knight Riders, he scored 4/41 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. His playing time has been reduced as the Knight Riders are yet to win in 2026.
Muzarabani will move down the Knights hierarchy with the expected coming of Matheesha Pathirana who received his NOC with Sri Lanka Cricket.
