On Saturday (January 03), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise to release the Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the squad.
The three-time champions have to find a replacement for the Bangladeshi pacer, who was acquired during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction.
Meanwhile, BCCI awaits an official decision from the Indian government and has put on hold India’s postponed white ball tour of Bangladesh, which was earlier rescheduled for September 2026.
Why was Mustafizur Rahman released ahead of IPL 2026?
The Indian cricket board has strictly ordered the release of Mustafizur Rahman after KKR acquired him for INR 9.20 crore during the auction, despite the strained political relationship between India and Bangladesh.
No matter how severe the political tension was between the two nations, the Knight Riders engaged in a fierce bidding war against the Delhi Capitals (DC) and the Chennai Super Kings. (CSK). However, the former champions won the bid, offering a lucrative cash deal to the 30-year-old pacer.
Over the past few weeks, several reports revealed that Hindus were attacked in Bangladesh. This prompted the BJP and Shiv Sena party leaders to voice their protests against allowing a Bangladeshi player to participate in the IPL.
The situation furthermore worsened after a Hindu man named Chandra Das’s death in Mymensingh in the previous month.
BCCI Secretary About Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL 2026 Exit
Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, ended speculations about Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL future and clarified that KKR has parted ways with the Bangladeshi pacer:
“Yeah! Due to recent incidents, KKR had to release one of their key players, none other than Mustafizur Rahman from Bangladesh.
BCCI is ready to grant permission for replacements if the franchise is looking for any alternatives to fill the void in the squad,” Saikia told India Today.
KKR Co-Owner Received Backlash for Signing Mustafizur
After the IPL 2026 mini-auction, KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan faced criticism from BJP leader Sangeet Som for signing a Bangladeshi cricketer. The Indian politician tagged the Bollywood superstar as “Gaddar (meaning traitor in English).”
SRK and his team management had to release Mustafizur not only to abide by BCCI’s instructions but also after facing the wrath of spiritual leaders like Devkindan Thakur and AIIO chief Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi.
‘A Heartless Owner’: Devkindan Thakur
Spiritual leader Devkindan Thakur questioned how Shah Rukh Khan can be such a cruel and heartless person to sign in Mustafizur despite the Hindus suffering in Bangladesh:
“Extremely shocked! The Hindus in Bangladesh were ruthlessly killed, whose homes were not only burnt, but also their sisters and daughters were brutally raped.
The person who calls himself the owner of the team, can he be so heartless and cruel to include a cricketer in his team from that nation?” Thakur asked.
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Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi asked the KKR co-owner if he was aware of the violence executed against Hindus in Bangladesh:
“See! My question to SRK is whether he was really conscious of the Hindus’ sufferings in Bangladesh.
Despite the atrocities, KKR opted for a Bangladeshi cricketer in the IPL auction pool. SRK should ask for an offer of forgiveness from the nation as well as give a statement condemning the atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh,” Ilyasi said.
BJP Leader Thanked BCCI’s Bold Decision
Sangeet Som thanked the Indian cricket board for taking a bold approach and believed that if it were the Hindus’ victory across the nation. Here is what the BJP leader had to say after Mustafizur Rahman’s exit from IPL 2026:
“Certainly! A big thanks to the BCCI for seriously considering the sentiments of 100 crore Indian Sanatanis.
As said yesterday, careful consideration will be taken of this matter. Most importantly, the sentiments of 100 crore individuals should be viewed seriously. This is indeed a massive victory for Hindus across the nation,” the 47-year-old said.
KKR’s Official Statement After Releasing Mustafizur Rahman
As per the recent official statement, the KKR franchise opened up on the instructions issued by the BCCI:
“Yeah! BCCI, as the IPL’s regulator, instructed the release of Mustafizur Rahman from KKR’s squad before the upcoming season in 2026.
Based on the instructions received, the release was successfully carried out following the required process and consultations.
KKR will now find a suitable replacement abiding by the IPL guidelines, and the details will be announced soon,” the franchise’s statement read.
Final Verdict
While several spiritual leaders and politicians criticized Shah Rukh Khan for signing a Bangladeshi cricketer, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate questioned the BCCI and ICC for including Mustafizur Rahman in the PL 2026 auction pool.
As the entire nation was outraged against Bangladesh, even a slight connection to a cricketer caused Shah Rukh Khan to become a big target.
However, KKR, following BCCI’s instructions, has taken necessary initiatives to release the Bangladeshi bowler from the squad to protect their co-owner’s interests as well as the entire interest of the nation.