Lucknow Super Giants likely to rope in Blessing Muzarabani to replace Mark Wood

In the latest IPL 2022 update, Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani is set to join the newly inducted franchise Lucknow Super Giants. The team was looking for a replacement for Mark Wood, who injured his elbow during the 1st Test between West Indies and England.

An official confirmation about this update is awaited from the team or IPL. The Indian Ambassador in Zimbabwe posted a tweet yesterday wishing the bowler as he prepares to leave for India. It is yet to be cleared whether Muzarabani has joined the squad as a full time bowler or a net bowler.

Blessing Muzarabani Stats

The 25-year-old Zimbabwean fast bowler has played 6 Tests, 30 ODIs and 21 T20Is for the national team. Muzarabani has taken 25 wickets in 21 T20Is while in the overall T20 format, he has taken 44 wickets in 40 matches.

He was in the Multan Sultans team in the recently held PSL 2022, where he picked 5 wickets in 4 matches and just before the PSL, he played 3 ODIs against Sri Lanka in January, picking 5 wickets.

BCB Denied Taskin Ahmed’ Participation

It was earlier learnt that Lucknow Super Giants was trying to rope in Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed to replace Mark Wood but the Bangladesh Cricket Board denied to give NoC to the player citing national duties. The NoCs are required for every player from their board to allow them to take part in IPL.

First Zimbabwean in 8 years of IPL

Blessing Muzarabani becomes the first Zimbabwe player to feature in the IPL in 8 years. Former batsman, Brendon Taylor was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014 but didn’t play any match and was released in 2015. Before that, Ray Price has been part of the Mumbai Indians side while Tatenda Taibu was in Kolkata Knight Riders camp.

Lucknow Super Giants will be led by Indian batsman KL Rahul and they will start their IPL 2022 journey against the other debutant team Gujarat Titans on March 28, 2022 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.