Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has handed Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani a two-year ban from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after he withdrew from his commitment to Islamabad United to sign with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Muzarabani was contracted to play for Islamabad United in PSL 11 but walked away from the deal to take up the IPL opportunity, filling a vacancy left by Bangladesh seamer Mustafizur Rahman in KKR’s squad.
The PCB said the ban follows a disciplinary review into the player’s failure to honour his contractual obligations.
“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,” the board said in a statement.
The PCB made clear that a binding agreement does not require a signed contract. Once essential terms including remuneration and structure are accepted through written correspondence, the board considers the player obligated to follow through.
“Such conduct, if left unaddressed, erodes the reliability of dealings and the confidence that franchises, regulators, and stakeholders place in professional engagements,” it added.
The board acknowledged the pressures of a packed global cricket calendar but said it would not lower its standards to accommodate them. The ban takes effect immediately and will cover the next two PSL seasons.
