Indian Cricket Board drops Mustafizur Rahman from IPL in face of threats

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ordered Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the squad for the 2026 IPL season. A top BCCI official said that the decision has been taken considering the recent overall situation and the political context of India and Bangladesh. At the same time, the franchise has been given permission to replace Mustafizur in the team.

In a statement given to Indian news agency ANI, BCCI Secretary Debjit Saikia said, "In view of the current overall situation, KKR has been instructed to release Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. In addition, the franchise will be allowed to take replacement players." His statement mainly reflects the recent political reality between the two countries.

Kolkata Knight Riders bought Mustafizur Rahman for Rs 9.2 crore in the IPL mini-auction held on December 16. There was intense competition between Chennai Super Kings and KKR for him in the auction. In the end, KKRE bought him, which is considered the highest price for a Bangladeshi cricketer in the history of IPL.

However, since the auction, the matter has sparked political debate in India. Various political and religious figures have publicly taken a stand against KKR's decision. Indian religious and spiritual guru Devkinandan Thakur criticized Shah Rukh Khan and said, "Hindus are being subjected to extreme torture in Bangladesh. In such a situation, it is inhuman to take a cricketer from that country."

Imam Umar Ahmed Ilyas, head of the All India Imam Organization, joined this criticism. He called on Shah Rukh Khan to apologize to the nation. At the same time, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam commented, "In the current situation, it can be risky to be associated with a Bangladeshi player. It is important to take into account the interests and security of India."

On the other hand, Congress leader Supriya Srinath blamed the BCCI and ICC for the controversy and asked, "Who included Bangladeshi players in the IPL auction list? The BCCI and the ICC will have to answer this."

All in all, in the face of political pressure, diplomatic sensitivities and growing criticism, the BCCI finally intervened. As a result, Mustafizur Rahman will no longer be seen in the Kolkata Knight Riders jersey in the IPL 2026 season.