Zimbabwe pacer Muzarabani's PSL ban called 'excessively harsh' by agent in 2026

Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani has been banned from PSL until 2029 after a contract dispute with Islamabad United over a verbal agreement and unsigned paperwork.

Agent's statement on silence For the last six weeks, we chose to stay out of the spotlight to avoid adding any extra tension between the Pakistan Super League and the Pakistan Cricket Board, as they had already created enough friction themselves. On 13 February, Islamabad United reached out to Blessing Muzarabani about a playing opportunity for the 2026 PSL season. The agreement was finalized with the condition that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) would be secured from Zimbabwe Cricket. An NOC cannot be obtained without a formal contract from the PSL. Islamabad United and the PSL then announced the signing publicly on social media. ## Contract delays and new offer Two weeks after the announcement, by February 27, no official contract had been delivered. During this gap, Kolkata Knight Riders approached Muzarabani with an offer, and an agreement was reached. - Fakhar, Farooq end Qalandars' losing streak and eliminate Rawalpindi - Tariq, Rossouw star as Gladiators down Qalandars - The sun has set on Rizwan's reign ## Demands for ban withdrawal We cannot be held accountable for breaching a contract we never received. Any ban preventing participation in the PSL is far too severe and inconsistent with punishments given to players who actually violated contracts in the past. We strongly urge the PSL to withdraw the ban graciously and recognize this as a simple administrative mistake on their side, nothing more severe. We hold no resentment toward the PSL or Islamabad United. ## Contract terms and replacement deal Muzarabani was signed by Islamabad United following the PSL auction after West Indian fast bowler Shamar Joseph and the franchise mutually agreed to terminate their contract. Muzarabani, coming off a strong T20 World Cup performance, was brought in as Joseph's replacement for approximately USD 40,000. Before any formal contract was issued or signed, a more lucrative offer from Kolkata Knight Riders worth about USD 160,000 emerged, and Muzarabani's participation in the IPL was then announced. ## PSL and PCB statements A request for comment was sent to the PSL, but they declined to provide any additional remarks beyond their earlier public statement. While they did not dispute that an official contract was never signed, they insist there was a clear verbal agreement between both parties. This aligns with the PCB's earlier statement that despite a clear offer and acceptance of key terms, the player opted to prioritize a conflicting arrangement instead. The PCB emphasized that once essential terms—including payment and structure—are agreed upon through written communication, a binding obligation is established. ## Disagreement over contract status While the PSL claims they believed a deal had effectively been completed, Humphries explained that the lack of follow-through after the contract offer left him uncertain about the deal's status. Humphries told the reporter, 'We did give a verbal commitment subject to NOC. I cannot apply for an NOC without a contract. No contract ever came to us.' ## Ban remains unchanged The PCB has no plans to reconsider Muzarabani's ban or its duration following the agent's statement. The Zimbabwean player will remain ineligible for PSL participation until 2029. This ban is stricter than the one-year suspension given to South African fast bowler Corbin Bosch last year when he left a PSL deal to play in the IPL. However, Bosch received a relatively lighter penalty because the PCB viewed him as more cooperative, including signing a statement of apology. ## Other cases under review Muzarabani was not the only player whose signing was announced before participation fell through. Lahore Qalandars had agreed to a contract with Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, but he ultimately left for an injury replacement role in the IPL at Rajasthan Royals. His case is still being evaluated by the PSL to decide whether any penalties will be applied.