Defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad are likely to miss the services of Bangladesh cricket team left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the 10th edition of the IPL.

Talking to Sportstarlive, Bangladesh, Mustafizur said from Colombo, “I have learnt a lot from IPL, but I don’t think I will be able to make it for the tournament this time around. I’m waiting for a permission from the Board.”

“I’m still not sure whether I will be able to play too many games. Even if I go, I will have to return by the first week of May. I am yet to get back to my rhythm, so Mashrafe Bhai (Mashrafe Mortaza) suggested me to skip the IPL. I am seriously considering his advice. We have a long session ahead and it is important that I remain fit. I’m trying hard to regain the lost touch but I am still not happy with my performance,” the 21-year-old was quoted as saying.

Mustafizur had taken 17 wickets in 16 matches in the ninth edition of the IPL and he was instrumental in taking Sunrisers Hyderabad to the title. He had bowled 61 overs in the tournament with a miserly economy rate of 6.9.

Sunrisers Hyderabad team sources confirmed the youngster would be missed in the first part of the tournament, “He will be missing the first leg, for sure. We are waiting for an official response from the Bangladesh Cricket Board on Mustafizur’s availability,” an SRH official was quoted as saying. Sunrisers had bought Mustafizur for R1.4 crore last year and retained him for this season.

He is currently in Sri Lanka to play the last ODI of the three-match series, which will be followed with two T20Is. Bangladesh will travel to Ireland in May to play a Tri-Nation series against the home team and New Zealand.