Mustafizur Rahman will not feature in the Renegades’ opening match against Perth Scorchers, at Chennai on 12 December, because Dubai Capitals still need him in the ILT20. Melbourne confirmed the Bangladesh left-armer on 4 November and said he arrives once that duty ends. Realistically, that points to the Sydney Sixers game at the SCG on 22 December at the earliest, with 24 December in Melbourne the safer date. Everything depends on how far the Capitals go in the ILT20 playoffs.
A bowling attack short on strike options
Jason Behrendorff’s shoulder surgery ends his season and leaves the biggest gap, and it follows the exits of Andrew Tye (retired), Fergus O’Neill (Sixers) and Adam Zampa (Hurricanes). Mustafizur arrives as the club’s third import, after Jonny Bairstow and Michael Bracewell. Coach Luke Ronchi wanted a wicket-taker with both the new ball and the final overs, and that is exactly the left-armer’s profile.
Behrendorff sits fourth on the BBL’s all-time wicket list and is contracted through BBL 17, so next summer should see him back. His last campaign brought five wickets in eight games, costing 9.29 an over. Tom Rogers has recovered from a shoulder injury of his own, and Brendan Doggett and Will Sutherland should take extra overs, while Michael Archer, Callum Stow and Sam Elliott add depth.
Mustafizur Rahman BBL 16 Renegades availability
The club has ruled him out of one game only, the opener. Every other status in the table is my reading of the ILT20 fixture list and what the club has said, so treat them as projections rather than selections.
The Perth fixture is the one certainty. The 22 December game is doubtful because the ILT20 playoffs run to 20 December, which leaves little travel time. Every match from 24 December to 16 January shows no clash at all.
Date | Opponent | Venue | Mustafizur availability | ILT20 clash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
12 Dec | Perth Scorchers | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | Unavailable | Club-confirmed; Capitals play 10 and 13 Dec |
22 Dec | Sydney Sixers | SCG, Sydney | Doubtful | Playoffs run to 20 Dec |
24 Dec | Hobart Hurricanes | Junction Oval, Melbourne | Expected | None |
27 Dec | Sydney Thunder | ENGIE Stadium, Sydney | Expected | None |
1 Jan | Sydney Sixers | MCG, Melbourne | Expected | None |
4 Jan | Melbourne Stars | MCG, Melbourne | Expected | None |
6 Jan | Adelaide Strikers | Adelaide Oval | Expected | None |
10 Jan | Brisbane Heat | Junction Oval, Melbourne | Expected | None |
13 Jan | Perth Scorchers | Optus Stadium, Perth | Expected | None |
16 Jan | Melbourne Stars | MCG, Melbourne | Expected | None |
ILT20 dates that squeeze the calendar
The ILT20 opens on 22 November and wraps up on 20 December. Dubai Capitals play their last league game in Abu Dhabi on 14 December, then the knockouts begin: first Qualifier on 16 December, the Eliminator a day later, second Qualifier on 18 December and the Dubai final on 20 December.
An early exit would release him straight after the group stage. A deep run leaves two days between the final and the SCG fixture, which is why that match is doubtful, although the Renegades are said to be planning to have him there.
MCG nights he is set to enjoy
The Renegades have three MCG fixtures: the Sixers on 1 January, then Melbourne derbies against the Stars on 4 and 16 January. A fan zone called Fizz Bay is set up for the first and last of those dates, and Mustafizur has spoken about how special it will feel to bowl at that ground.
Junction Oval hosts the games on 24 December and 10 January, with ENGIE Stadium on 27 December, Adelaide Oval on 6 January and Optus Stadium in Perth on 13 January.
The wicket-taker Melbourne are waiting for
Only two other Bangladeshis, Shakib Al Hasan and Rishad Hossain of Hobart, have played in the BBL before him. Across T20 cricket, he has 423 wickets from 331 matches, striking every 16.9 balls. Of his 149 T20I wickets, 70 arrived in the death overs, more than any other bowler, as of September 2025. Eight powerplay wickets since 2023 in T20Is have come at 6.67 an over.
Fans should plan around the opener being a no-show, and the SCG clash being a coin flip. The Mustafizur Rahman BBL 16 Renegades availability picture clears fully from 24 December, when every remaining fixture is free of ILT20 clashes.
Should Melbourne have chosen a replacement who could play the opener, or is missing a few early games a fair price for his skills? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which BBL club has signed the Bangladesh left-armer for the new season?
Melbourne Renegades have signed him as their third overseas player. He joins Jonny Bairstow and Michael Bracewell, and is only the third Bangladeshi in the competition.
What led the Renegades to sign a left-arm quick from Bangladesh?
They needed cover for the injured Jason Behrendorff. Coach Luke Ronchi wanted wicket-taking in both the first six overs and the last four, and Mustafizur delivers both.
Is the Bangladesh quick available for the Renegades’ first game against Perth?
No, the Chennai season opener on 12 December is one he will miss. His Dubai Capitals commitments in the ILT20 keep him away, and he joins the squad in Melbourne afterwards.
Who takes Behrendorff’s place in the Renegades attack this season?
Mustafizur Rahman replaces him. Behrendorff misses this campaign following shoulder surgery yet stays contracted for BBL 17, so a return next summer is widely expected.
What are Mustafizur’s career numbers in T20 cricket?
He has 423 wickets from 331 T20 matches, striking every 16.9 balls. In T20Is, 70 of his 149 wickets came in the death overs, a record among bowlers as of September 2025.