A new political issue has surfaced as the Indian Premier League (IPL) went and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to free the Bangladeshi speedy bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the squad before the IPL 2026 season. The BCCI’s directive comes at a time when there is a lot of concern about the safety and security of the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
Welcoming the decision, BJP leader Sangeet Singh Som expressed his gratitude to the BCCI and the central government for the sensitivity shown toward the world’s Hindus and the followers of Sanatan Dharma through this decision.
Speaking to NDTV, Som said the cricket board had sent a clear message that franchises must consider public sentiment while making decisions. He also claimed that Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, who co-owns KKR, had now understood the consequences of such choices.
According to Som, the player’s inclusion was solely a franchise decision that later drew the attention of the BCCI. “Once the matter came to light, the board acted and ensured his removal,” he said. He added that the player was part of an earlier auction pool and not a new signing, but insisted that the decision still hurt the emotions of a large section of people.
Som repeated his criticism of the franchise and said the authorities deserved praise for responding to public concerns.
Meanwhile, the BCCI clarified that KKR will be allowed to name a replacement for the player. BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia told ANI that if the franchise requests a substitute, the board will permit it under league rules.
The controversy began after KKR secured Mustafizur Rahman for ₹9.20 crore during the IPL auction. The move triggered criticism from several religious and political figures due to reports of violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
Spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur was among those who strongly objected to the decision. He accused the KKR management of being insensitive, citing reports of attacks on Hindu homes and communities in Bangladesh. Thakur questioned how a team owner could include a player from a country where such incidents were allegedly taking place.
However, not all political voices agreed with this stance. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor cautioned against linking sports with geopolitical or communal issues. He said cricket should remain separate from political developments and that individual players should not be held responsible for actions of governments or groups.
“Mustafizur Rahman is a professional cricketer and has nothing to do with violence or hatred,” Tharoor said. “He has not been accused of anything wrong, and it is not fair to mix sports with these issues.”
Tharoor also stated that although India has expressed concern over the protection of minorities and raised issues with Bangladesh regarding this, it should still conduct diplomatic engagement, but the conflict should not affect the sports world.
The whole incident has once again pointed to the complicated relationship between sports, politics, and public opinions in India, especially when regional tensions are transferred to the widely accepted platforms like the IPL.
