Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Nurul Hasan Sohan has thrown his full support behind Mustafizur Rahman, insisting that the left-arm pacer has nothing left to prove despite missing out on the IPL 2026 season. Speaking after Rangpur Riders’ thrilling win in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Sohan said Mustafizur’s performances over the years speak for themselves and that the senior bowler has handled recent disappointments with admirable maturity.

Mustafizur was recently released by Kolkata Knight Riders, the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned IPL franchise, despite being picked up for a hefty Rs 9.2 crore following a bidding war at the Abu Dhabi auction in December.

The decision reportedly came after a directive from the BCCI, ending the Bangladesh pacer’s IPL stint before it could even begin. While the snub was a major talking point, those close to Mustafizur believe it has not affected his mindset.

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If anything, Mustafizur Rahman has responded in the best possible way—on the field. Representing Rangpur Riders in the BPL, the experienced seamer has been in excellent form. His standout moment came on Sunday, January 4, at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, where he bowled a sensational final over against Dhaka Capitals to seal a narrow five-run victory.

On BCCI asks KKR to release Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “I made my view very clear on this from the start. I’ve argued for some time that sport should be kept apart from politics, or rather that sport should not be made to bear the… pic.twitter.com/RFeZZx8UwU

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The spell once again underlined why Mustafizur is regarded as one of the finest death-over specialists in white-ball cricket. Sohan, who was part of that contest, was full of praise for his teammate during the post-match press conference. He described Mustafizur as a world-class bowler who continues to earn the trust of teammates and fans alike.

“For us, Mustafiz is a world-class bowler. He has been proving that for a long time. Everyone has confidence in him. There is nothing more to say about him, everyone is always impressed,” Sohan said.

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He also acknowledged that missing out on the IPL could sting, but stressed that Mustafizur remains calm and focused on contributing for Bangladesh. According to Sohan, the pacer’s primary motivation has always been to give his best for the national side, a trait that continues to define his character regardless of external circumstances.