Bangladesh senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin has praised Mustafizur Rahman for his calm mindset amid the controversy that followed his IPL release and the wider fallout in international cricket.
Speaking to reporters, Salahuddin said he personally asked Mustafizur how he was coping with the situation. According to the coach, the left-arm pacer kept his response simple.
“I asked Mustafizur how he was actually feeling,” Salahuddin said. “He told me, ‘Let it be. What is gone is gone.’”
The comments come after a turbulent period in which Mustafizur’s release from the IPL triggered diplomatic and cricketing tensions. Bangladesh later sought to avoid playing the T20 World Cup in India, a request that was not approved by the ICC. This eventually led to Bangladesh being removed from the 2026 T20 World Cup. The situation escalated further when Pakistan announced it would not play its match against India.
Salahuddin said not every player can handle such pressure in the same way, but Mustafizur’s approach stood out.
“I think not everyone can be like Mustafizur,” he said. “But this is what is best for a player. You should not try to control things that are not in your control.”
He explained that frustration over decisions beyond a player’s influence can damage performance and mindset.
“If you stay stuck in disappointment, you will not understand your present situation,” Salahuddin said. “That applies to cricket and even to normal jobs.”
The coach added that Mustafizur had every reason to feel disappointed, given the financial and professional stakes involved. Still, the fast bowler chose acceptance over anger.
“He knows these things were not in his hands,” Salahuddin said. “I learned something from Mustafizur here. Others can learn from him too.”
Salahuddin’s remarks highlight Mustafizur Rahman’s mental strength at a time when cricket decisions have crossed into politics, leaving players caught in the middle of events far beyond the boundary rope.
