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IPL 2022: Blessing Muzarabani set to join Lucknow Super Giants
Follow UsThe Zimbabwe fast bowler has played six Tests, 30 ODIs and 21 T20Is for his country since making his debut in 2017
Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani is set to join Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, it remains unclear if the pacer is a like-for-like replacement for Mark Wood or will join the franchise as a net bowler.
Ambassador met with Mr Blessing Muzarabani, the Zimbabwean bowler, as he prepared to leave for #IPL2022.
— India in Zimbabwe (@IndiainZimbabwe) March 21, 2022
Ambassador wished him & his team #LucknowSuperGiants the very best. #IndiaAt75 @IndianDiplomacy @MEAIndia @iccr_hq pic.twitter.com/8AMPO9Xbyd
Muzarabani has played six Tests, 30 ODIs and 21 T20Is for his country since making his debut in 2017.
Not many Zimbabweans have played in the IPL, with former skipper Brendan Taylor being the last before being released by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2015. LSG initially contacted Taskin Ahmed, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to provide the fast bowler with a NOC given his national commitments.
Taskin is currently in South Africa where he is part of the ODI and the Test squad. The series which began with the first ODI on March 18, will conclude after the second Test on April 12.
Wood, who is part of England's Test squad against West Indies in the Caribbean, sustained an elbow injury in the first Test that ruled him out not just for the entire series, but also the whole of IPL 2022.
LSG secured the services of Mark Wood for INR 7.5 crore after fighting off competition from Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at the auction.
Wood has played just one IPL match so far, which came for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) against MI in 2018. He bowled four wicketless overs and conceded 49 runs in that game at the Wankhede Stadium.