Senior Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi, whose party is an ally of India’s ruling BJP, has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to reconsider its decision to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League, arguing that politics should not influence sport.
While opposition leaders such as Shashi Tharoor and Asaduddin Owaisi had earlier spoken out on the Mustafizur issue, this marks the first time criticism has emerged from leadership aligned with the BJP.
Speaking to Indian media on Tuesday (06 January), Tyagi said the decision to drop Mustafizur should be reviewed, particularly in light of Bangladesh’s recent appointment of Liton Das as captain of their T20 side.
“Politics should not be mixed with sport,” Tyagi said. “By appointing a Hindu cricketer like Litton Das as captain, Bangladesh has sent a strong message. That is why the decision to drop their star pacer should be reconsidered.”
He suggested that the BCCI’s move may have been influenced by prevailing public sentiment amid regional tensions, but insisted that such factors should not dictate cricketing decisions.
Tyagi described the current situation in the Indian subcontinent as highly sensitive, particularly with developments involving Pakistan and Bangladesh.
“Pakistan is responsible for terrorism along the border, and incidents in Bangladesh have angered Indian society,” he said, adding that these emotions may have played a role in the BCCI’s decision.
However, he stressed that political developments should not spill over into sport.
“In my personal view, political influence should not affect sport at all. When Bangladesh can appoint a minority Hindu cricketer as captain, it gives us an opportunity to rethink our own decisions,” he said.
The controversy follows demands from Hindutva groups in India to bar Bangladeshi players from the IPL after reports of violence against minority Hindus in Bangladesh. In that backdrop, the BCCI directed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman, a move that has drawn mixed reactions across India’s political spectrum.
Summing up his position, Tyagi said, “We are angry over various incidents in Bangladesh and responded by removing a Bangladeshi cricketer from the IPL. But Bangladesh, at the same time, appointed a minority Hindu cricketer as their team’s captain. That sends a powerful message.”
