Mustafiz receives Big Bash offer from Melbourne Renegades, seeks BCB clearance

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has received a formal offer to play in the upcoming season of Australia's domestic franchise T20 tournament, the Big Bash League. The offer came from tournament side Melbourne Renegades.

After receiving the offer, Mustafiz formally sought a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to take part in the competition. According to a reliable source, if everything is finalised he will play in Melbourne colours for the whole of the upcoming Big Bash season.

The decision has had an effect on domestic cricket at home. At the D Three Trophy player auction held at a five-star hotel in the capital, many of the national team's top stars fetched more than ten million points, but Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain stayed below that mark.

According to the report, the main reason for their comparatively lower prices was that, because of their Big Bash commitments, they will not be able to give time to the T20 edition of the D Three Trophy.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain will also play the whole of the upcoming Big Bash season. As in the previous season, he will play for Hobart Hurricanes and will miss the short format of the D Three Trophy.

Despite his unavailability for the full period, franchises showed interest in Rishad at the auction. Fortune eventually signed him for six million points.

It has been learnt that, considering the opportunity for players in foreign franchise leagues, the BCB has decided to give Mustafizur Rahman the clearance needed to play in the Big Bash. If the NOC is issued, Bangladesh bowlers Mustafiz and Rishad will both play a full season in Australia at the same time, and neither will be available for the T20 phase of the D Three Trophy.