Indian cricket journalist Sharda Ugra has sharply criticised the BCCI after Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL, speaking this week in India as the fallout continues to ripple through Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the wider T20 World Cup landscape.
Ugra pointed the finger squarely at the IPL decision. She argued that it triggered a chain reaction that pushed the global tournament into uncertainty.
Speaking to The Wire, Ugra said, “There is no doubt about it.” Her tone left little room for diplomacy.
She added, “This year a Bangladeshi got a chance in the IPL. The contract was just done.” For Ugra, the timing made the decision even harder to defend.
Ugra went further, saying, “What this means is that you are exercising your power over someone small or someone who doesn’t have much strength.” That reading cuts deep and frames the move as symbolic rather than sporting.
She concluded bluntly, “As a cricket journalist, I think this was a very bad mistake.” It is rare to hear such clarity from within Indian cricket’s own media circle.
Ugra also explained why Pakistan stepped in behind Bangladesh. She said, “Everything started from the decision to drop Mustafizur from the IPL.” In her view, the chain of events followed naturally from that moment.
She added, “Bangladesh then said if Mustafizur is not safe, why should our team go to India.” That concern, she suggested, carried genuine weight.
Ugra linked Pakistan’s stance to recent history, saying, “Pakistan probably wants to continue the handshake controversy from the last Asia Cup.” She framed it as unfinished business rather than sudden solidarity.
She also highlighted the broader imbalance of power. Ugra said, “After dropping a Bangladeshi player from the IPL, they couldn’t manage it later.” Her criticism widened from one decision to institutional control.
Ugra concluded, “Because of the Indian board’s influence in the ICC and over other boards, everything has reached this point.” It was a stark assessment of how cricket politics now shapes global tournaments.
