In the lead up to both the IPL and the PSL, all respective teams are finalised and the fans are just waiting for the tournaments to begin. However, when players are rendered unavailable; the IPL will swoop for available players - mostly those set to play in the PSL.
Due to the money, the players are more than happy to make the switch. However, the PSL has taken action and barred the players for numerous years. Complaints have arisen as a result from the players.
Blessing Muzarabani has been banned from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for two years after the Zimbabwe fast bowler joined Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders, despite having agreed to play for PSL team Islamabad United.
The 29-year-old, who went unsold in the IPL and PSL auctions, was signed by Islamabad, but he chose to play for Kolkata instead as the IPL franchise’s replacement for Mustafizur Rahman; who was released following instructions from the Board Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The IPL and the PSL have been held almost simultaneously since last year; making it impossible for an international player to participate in both leagues.
"Despite a clear offer and an unequivocal acceptance of essential terms, the player chose to disregard these obligations in favour of a conflicting arrangement,” the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The attempt to move away from such commitments without valid cause is a violation of contractual obligations and principles of good faith that govern global professional sports."
South African bowler, Corbin Bosch, who last year snubbed Peshawar Zalmi to play for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, was banned from the PSL for one year.
Pakistani cricketers haven't competed in the IPL since 2008; when 12 players were selected by five franchises.
Following the 2008 attacks in Mumbai, the Indian league has not selected players from across the western border due to geopolitical tensions.
Blessing Muzarabani's agent has hit back at the two-year ban imposed on the Zimbabwean fast bowler by the PSL, calling it "incredibly excessive." In a statement posted to the agency's X account, the agent, Rob Humphries, denied that a binding agreement between the league and the player had been reached before Muzarabani ultimately opted to sign a contract with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL instead.
"We've remained quiet publicly over the last six weeks because we did not wish to create or cause anymore animosity for the Pakistan Super League/Pakistan Cricket Board than they had already created for themselves," the statement says.
"[On] 13 February, Blessing [was] approached by Islamabad United about a playing opportunity for the 2026 PSL. The deal [was] agreed subject to obtaining a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Zimbabwe Cricket. An NOC cannot be obtained without a contract from the PSL. Islamabad United/PSL announced the signing to the world via social media."
The statement goes on to say that, two weeks later, on 27 February, an official contract had still not been sent over. By then, KKR approached Muzarabani with an offer and a deal was agreed.
"You simply cannot breach a contract you have never received. We feel ANY ban on participation in the PSL is incredibly excessive and is not consistent with the punishment given to players that have actually breached a contract in the past. We urge the PSL to gracefully withdraw the ban and accept this situation for what it is, an administrative error at their end, nothing more. We bear no grudges toward the PSL/Islamabad United."
Muzarabani was signed by Islamabad United following the PSL auction when United and West Indian fast bowler, Shamar Joseph, mutually agreed to terminate their contract. Muzarabani, who enjoyed success at the T20 World Cup, was signed as Joseph's replacement for approximately USD 40 000.
Shortly after that and before an official contract was produced or signed, an offer from KKR worth about USD 160 000 was made and Muzarabani's participation in the IPL was announced.
The PCB didn't dispute that a contract hadn't been officially signed but insist that a clear verbal agreement between both parties was complete. This, in effect, is a reiteration of the PCB's statement where they said that "despite a clear offer and an unequivocal acceptance of essential terms, the player chose to disregard these obligations in favor of a conflicting arrangement."
The statement went on to say that "The PCB underscores that once essential terms - including remuneration and structure - are agreed upon through written correspondence, a binding obligation is formed."
That appears at the heart of the disagreement between the board and Muzarabani's agent. While the PSL insist they believed a deal had effectively been struck, Humphries says the PSL going cold following the offer of a contract without official follow-through made him uncertain if the deal was on. "We did give a verbal commitment subject to NOC," Humphries said, "I can't apply for an NOC without a contract. No contract ever came to us."
However, the PCB has no intention of reviewing Muzarabani's ban, or its length, following the statement from the agent. The Zimbabwean won't be eligible to participate in the PSL untill 2029. It is a step up from the one-year ban handed to South African fast bowler, Corbin Bosch, last year when he waked away from a PSL deal to play in the IPL.
However, the relative leniency of his sanction came about because the PCB considered him to have been more co-operative than Muzarabani when he left; including co-signing a statement of apology.
The PCB is defending its ban on Blessing Muzarabani from the PSL, asserting a breach of verbal agreement despite the absence of a formal contract; after the Zimbabwe pacer joined the Indian Premier League.
The PCB admitted that no contract was ever sent to Muzarabani to play in the PSL but insisted that a firm verbal agreement was reached with the Zimbabwe pacer and he had breached the trust while joining the Indian Premier League.
The PCB recently imposed a two-year ban on Muzarabani from playing in the PSL, claiming he breached a contract with Islamabad United and joined IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders.
He has already played two games for KKR in IPL 2026, taking 4-41 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 2 April 2026.
The fast bowler’s agent, Rob Humphries, tore into the PCB on Sunday in a social media post for the ban and claimed his client neither took part in the PSL players auction nor signed any contract with Islamabad United.
Humphries said the ban was excessive and unjustified. However, sources in the PCB, while conceding no contract was signed with Rabbani, claimed that a clear verbal agreement between both parties was reached.
The source said this was also clear in the PCB announcement about the ban that, despite a clear offer and an unequivocal acceptance of essential terms, the player chose to disregard these obligations in favour of a conflicting arrangement.
The PCB source said once essential terms – including remuneration and structure – are agreed upon through written correspondence, a binding obligation is formed.
Humphries said after talks began with Islamabad United, they had made it clear that unless they had a contract, they couldn’t apply for an NOC from the Zimbabwe Cricket.
“We’ve remained quiet publicly over the last six weeks because we did not wish to create or cause any more animosity for the Pakistan Super League/Pakistan Cricket Board any more than they had already created for themselves,” Humphries’ statement said.
"An NOC cannot be obtained without a contract from the PSL. Islamabad United/PSL announced the signing to the world via social media," it said.
Humphries further urged the PCB to gracefully withdraw the ban and accept this situation risen out of an administrative error at their end.
Muzarabani was not the only player whose signing was announced before participation fell through. Lahore Qalandars agreed a contract with Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, before he ultimately left as an injury replacement for Sam Curran in the IPL at Rajasthan Royals.
The PCB on Monday imposed a one-year ban on Sri Lanka T20 team captain, Dasun Shanaka, after breaking away with the contract being dealt with him.
Shanaka unilaterally violated the PSL player registration contract on 21 March, deciding not taking part in the PSL, according to the country’s cricket body. Shanaka, following the PCB’s ban, won't be able to feature in the PSL 12th edition, though he apologised for breaching the player registration contract.
PCB issued bans and suspensions against multiple players in the going the PSL edition. Mostly related to contract breaches or code-of-conduct violations, especially involving PSL vs IPL commitments.
Earlier, Zimbabwe origin Blessing Muzarabani also gained a two-year PSL ban after he withdrew from his PSL commitment to join an IPL franchise. Likewise, national team player Fakhar Zaman was also given a two-match suspension in PSL 11. He was accused of ball-tampering allegations, which was later upheld on appeal.
I'm fully with the PCB on this. The player agreed to the terms and therefore vowed to play in the league. To me, this dispute is out of desperation. Muzarabani has only played two out of seven games and the chances of him being retained for next year's edition is slim.
He won't have a fall back next year. I can only speculate that the player wouldn't have cared if he was playing on a consistent level.