Mustafizur seeks BCB clearance for Big Bash League debut

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has applied for a No Objection Certificate from the Bangladesh Cricket Board to play in the Big Bash League for the first time.

If all goes according to plan, the left-arm pacer will represent the Melbourne Renegades in the upcoming Australian T20 franchise competition.

The development was confirmed on Monday during the auction for the domestic tournament 'D3', where BCB president Tamim Iqbal told reporters about the NOC applications.

Alongside Mustafizur, leg-spinner Rishad Hossain has also sought clearance from the board as overseas franchise interest continues to grow.

The pacer did not spark an intense bidding war at the auction because he is set to miss part of the D3 tournament due to his BBL commitments. Mustafizur will only feature in the ODI format, with Seven Rings Cement securing his services for 70 lakh virtual points.

Shakib Al Hasan was the first Bangladeshi cricketer to feature in the BBL, where he also represented the Melbourne Renegades. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, who impressed with the Hobart Hurricanes last season, will return to the same franchise.

The next edition of the BBL is scheduled to take place in December-January, coinciding with the T20 format of the D3 tournament. Having stepped away from red-ball cricket, Mustafizur is not part of domestic first-class competitions.