A few days ago, Zimbabwe’s fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani made a storm with his pace and bounce on the pitches of Bangladesh. Now, the 6-foot-8-inch pacer has been signed by the IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Muzarabani, 28, has been brought in as a replacement for South African pacer Lungi Ngidi. Ngidi will be joining the South African squad for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship final, which is why he will no longer be available for RCB.
According to the official IPL announcement, Muzarabani has been signed by RCB for a sum of ₹75 lakh for the remaining matches of the season.
Muzarabani has played 70 T20 internationals for Zimbabwe, taking 78 wickets. Additionally, he has represented his country in 12 Test matches and 55 One Day Internationals (ODIs). With experience playing in the PSL and UAE League, Muzarabani was also a net bowler for Lucknow Super Giants in 2022. This will be his first IPL appearance, and the change will take effect from May 26.
Interestingly, IPL franchises are facing a shortage of foreign players just ahead of the playoffs. After the suspension of the tournament due to the India-Pakistan conflict, several players have expressed objections to traveling to India for the remaining matches. A major concern is the World Test Championship final between Australia and South Africa, with both cricket boards gathering their players ahead of the crucial clash. This has put IPL teams in a difficult position.
Royal Challengers Bangalore, one of the three teams that have already secured a spot in the IPL playoffs, is considered one of the favorites for this year’s title. The team is coached by former Zimbabwean cricket legend Andy Flower, and it is believed that it was under his guidance that Muzarabani was brought into the Bangalore camp.
