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Blessing Muzarabani has turned down his PSL commitment with Islamabad United to sign for Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of IPL 2026. KKR confirmed the signing on Friday and Muzarabani has already informed Islamabad of his decision to withdraw.
Blessing Muzarabani leaves Islamabad United and PSL for KKR and IPL 2026
Blessing Muzarabani is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on March 17, eleven days before IPL 2026 gets underway on March 28. The PSL starts on March 26 and Muzarabani will not be part of it.
This is the second successive year that a player initially signed by a PSL team has walked away for the IPL with the two competitions running concurrently. Last year South Africa allrounder Corbin Bosch withdrew from Peshawar Zalmi to join Mumbai Indians as an injury replacement and the PSL responded with a one-season ban.
ESPNcricinfo has confirmed that the PSL is being asked whether a similar penalty will apply to Muzarabani. He had gone unsold at the PSL auction on February 11 and was later signed by Islamabad United as a direct signing after they released West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph. That deal has now been abandoned.
Why KKR wanted Blessing Muzarabani and what he brings to their pace attack
Muzarabani comes into KKR as a direct replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, the Bangladesh left-arm pacer who was released from the squad in December on BCCI's instructions following political tensions between India and Bangladesh. Mustafizur had been bought at the 2026 mini auction for Rs 9.2 crore and has since signed with Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. KKR needed a pace bowling replacement and Muzarabani, coming off the best tournament of his career, was exactly the profile they were looking for.
He is 29 years old, stands at 6 feet 8 inches and is a right-arm quick known for his steep bounce and his ability to take wickets at key moments in an innings. He arrives at KKR in outstanding form. He was Zimbabwe's leading wicket-taker at the T20 World Cup 2026, picking up 13 wickets in six matches and finishing just one wicket short of jointly topping the tournament charts. Four of those 13 wickets came in Zimbabwe's stunning group stage win over Australia.
As per Sportstar, KKR confirmed the signing with a statement that laid out his record clearly. "Muzarabani brings significant T20 experience, having claimed over 90 wickets in more than 80 T20 internationals at an average of around 21, with best figures of 3 for 8. His pace and consistency across global leagues and international cricket add further depth to KKR's pace attack heading into the season."
Also READ: Rajasthan Royals to kick off IPL 2026 preparations on March 17
The IPL connection he already has and what changes this time
Muzarabani is not new to the IPL setup. He joined RCB last year as a replacement for the injured Lungi Ngidi during their title winning campaign but did not get a single game throughout RCB's run to the championship. He was in the squad, in the dressing room, part of the setup and yet never got onto the field. This time the situation is different.
He arrives at KKR as a confirmed member of the playing group, not a replacement waiting for an opportunity that may not come, and he arrives in the kind of form that makes it very difficult for any captain to leave him out of the eleven.
Thirteen wickets in six World Cup games at a tournament where Zimbabwe topped their group and reached the Super Eight is not a number that gets ignored when the team sheet is being written. Muzarabani will be in Kolkata on March 17. IPL 2026 starts on March 28. He has eleven days to get ready and every reason to make up for the season he spent watching from the bench.
