The decision to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad—following an instruction from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)—has sparked widespread condemnation from cricketers, politicians, and diplomatic analysts on both sides of the border.
The BCCI’s directive for KKR to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur followed criticism from a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader after the team signed him, amid what the leader described as rising reports of atrocities against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Sangeet Som, a former member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, called actor Shah Rukh Khan a “traitor” for signing Mustafizur and warned that players like him “will not be able to step out of the airport” if they come to India.
Spiritual guru Devkinandan Thakur also criticised Shah Rukh Khan for acquiring Mustafizur and urged the KKR management not to field him in the team.
The BCCI move has drawn sharp criticism not only in Bangladesh but also in India, where senior politicians described it as “mindless politicisation of sport.” In response, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) convened an emergency meeting late Monday night to assess the situation and decide its next course of action.
The development has raised serious concerns within BCB, particularly as the Bangladesh national team is scheduled to travel to India on January 25 for the upcoming T20 World Cup, set to begin on February 9 and co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Ensuring the safety and security of the Bangladeshi contingent has become a major concern, especially after Indian authorities appeared unable to guarantee the protection of even a single Bangladeshi player.
Pakistan will play all of its group matches in Sri Lanka, while Bangladesh is scheduled to play four group matches in India.
BCCI decision
West Bengal–based KKR had secured Mustafizur for Rs 9.2 crore at the Indian Premier League auction held on December 16. However, the BCCI later instructed the franchise to release the Bangladeshi pacer, citing “recent developments across the region.”
BCCI Secretary Anurag Saikia told ANI, “Due to the recent developments which are going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur of Bangladesh, from their squad. If KKR ask for a replacement, BCCI will allow that.”
KKR—previously home to several Bangladeshi players including Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das—officially announced the release on Saturday, confirming that Mustafizur will not take part in this season’s IPL.
Cricketers express shock
Usually reserved with the media, Mustafizur reacted calmly to the decision, saying, “If they release me, what else can I do.”
Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, who played a match for Mumbai Indians in the 2009 IPL and currently serves as assistant coach of Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League, expressed disappointment.
“Cricket and politics should never be mixed,” Ashraful told TIMES of Bangladesh. “I am completely shocked. This was Mustafizur’s first real opportunity to earn what he deserved in the IPL. Kolkata bid for him fairly, and then this happened.”
Another former national captain, Rajin Saleh, was even more critical. Now assistant coach of Rajshahi Warriors in the ongoing BPL, he said the decision reflected poorly on Indian cricket.
“This is India criticising itself,” Saleh said. “Mustafizur never asked to play in the IPL—they needed him and signed him. Then they said he couldn’t play. I cannot understand the thought process of the Indian cricket board. In my view, they have embarrassed themselves on the world cricket stage.”
BCB holds emergency meeting
Following the announcement, attention shifted to BCB, with fans and media awaiting a response from board president Aminul Islam Bulbul regarding the BCCI’s earlier request for a No Objection Certificate and the subsequent release of the player.
The emergency meeting of the BCB was still underway at the time of filing this report at 10:00pm.
Earlier in the day, while inaugurating BCB’s regional office in Sylhet, Bulbul declined to comment directly on the issue. “At this moment, I cannot answer this question. I will speak with our cricket operations head,” he said.
Repeated attempts to reach BCB Cricket Operations chairman Nazmul Abedin Fahim were unsuccessful. However, Bulbul stressed that the board would wait for an official communication from the BCCI before issuing any formal statement.
He said, “Our counterpart is the BCCI, and we operate under ICC supervision. We know Mustafizur was scheduled to play franchise cricket, but we have not yet received any official information. Once we do, we will inform you.”
Indian politicians slam the decision
Senior Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge have strongly criticised ruling BJP and BCCI following the decision that led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur from their IPL squad.
Reacting on X, Tharoor questioned the rationale behind the move and cautioned against dragging religion, nationality and politics into sports. “Recalling my views on the subject, now that BCCI has deplorably pulled the plug on Mustafizur. And what if the Bangladeshi player in question had been Litton Das or Soumya Sarkar? Who are we punishing here: a nation, an individual, his religion? Where will this mindless politicising of sport lead us?” he wrote.
Tharoor reiterated that holding an individual sportsperson responsible for political or social developments in another country was both unfair and unjustified.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge echoed similar concerns, questioning the silence of cricketing authorities and the central government over the issue, reports The Hindu. “What is the point of questioning a franchise or its owner? The rules are framed by BCCI and overseen by ICC. Why is nobody questioning BCCI, ICC or the home minister?” he asked.
Kharge also accused the ruling establishment of selectively invoking nationalism while prioritising commercial interests. “If BCCI genuinely cares about people’s sentiments, why are IPL auctions held outside India? Why was the IPL staged in Abu Dhabi during the Covid pandemic? You don’t see the English Premier League or the NFL conducting auctions outside their own countries,” he said.
He alleged that nationalism was being used opportunistically, while profit remained the overriding consideration.
Unfortunate signal
Former ambassador Md Abdul Hye told TIMES of Bangladesh that the decision must be seen in the context of the current political transition in Bangladesh, with a national election expected within a month.
“India wants to avoid any situation that could turn into a major controversy, such as a threat to Mustafizur’s safety,” he said.
Abdul Hye noted that heightened emotions and mobilised groups exist on both sides of the border. “My hunch is that India does not want to take any risk at this point,” he added.
Another former Bangladeshi ambassador, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the exclusion had sent an unfortunate signal at a sensitive time. “Mustafizur is the only Bangladeshi cricketer who could play in the IPL. By keeping him out, Delhi risks placing Dhaka in the same bracket as Islamabad, as no Pakistani player is allowed to participate in the league,” he said.
He also pointed to the growing influence of ultra-right groups in India in fuelling anti-Bangladesh sentiment. “If the Dhaka-Delhi relationship is to move forward, such forces need to be addressed or contained,” he added.
Referring to the upcoming provincial election in West Bengal, he said, “One does not need to be a rocket scientist to anticipate that anti-Bangladesh rhetoric will intensify in the coming days.”
Another former diplomat cautioned that only restraint and mature conduct from both sides could prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
