Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani found himself at the centre of a contractual dispute after the Pakistan Super League (PSL) imposed a two-year ban on him for pulling out of the 2026 season.
Reacting to the decision, Muzarabani’s agency, World Sports Xchange, has firmly denied any wrongdoing, stating that the pacer never signed a formal contract with any PSL franchise before opting to join Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
Muzarabani had reportedly been lined up as a replacement signing in the PSL on a deal worth around PKR 11 million. He was linked with Islamabad United, but later withdrew and accepted an IPL opportunity with KKR as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman.
In a statement posted on X, the agency clarified that the agreement with the PSL side was only provisional and dependent on securing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Zimbabwe Cricket, something that requires a signed contract.
“Blessing was approached about a playing opportunity for the 2026 PSL, with a deal agreed subject to obtaining a No Objection Certificate from Zimbabwe Cricket. An NOC cannot be obtained without a contract from the PSL. Despite a public announcement, no contract was ever provided. You simply cannot breach a contract you have never received,” the statement read.
The agency further revealed that when KKR approached Muzarabani on February 27 for IPL 2026, there was no binding agreement in place with the PSL, allowing the player to accept the offer without breaching any obligations.
Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), headed by Mohsin Naqvi, had announced a two-year ban on the pacer, citing a failure to honour commitments and a breach of the league’s code of conduct.
However, Muzarabani’s representatives have termed the punishment “incredibly excessive” and urged the PSL to reconsider its decision.
“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 or Islamabad United,” the agency added.
Muzarabani has featured in two matches for KKR in IPL 2026 so far. After going wicketless on debut, he bounced back strongly in the clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, picking up four wickets and showcasing his impact with the ball.