New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from its IPL 2026 squad, the board’s secretary Devajit Saikia said, as reported by news agencies, on Saturday.
The recent developments prompted the decision, directing KKR to free the left-arm pacer from their roster, he told ANI. The BCCI has also said it would allow the franchise to name a replacement player, should they choose to do so. Following this development, BJP leader Sangeet Som thanked BCCI for its decision. He hailed it as a “victory of the Hindus of the entire nation, reported TOI.
Mustafizur was one of the most talked-about buys at the IPL 2026 mini-auction last month in Abu Dhabi, when KKR secured his services for Rs 9.20 crore, making him the highest-priced Bangladeshi player in IPL history. An intense bidding contest with Chennai Super Kings preceded the deal.
The inclusion of Mustafizur in the KKR squad sparked criticism from several political figures and groups in India, who objected on the grounds of ongoing diplomatic and domestic concerns. Commentators had pointed to strained ties and reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh as reasons behind the push to remove him from the IPL roster.
Despite the controversy, the BCCI’s official statement focused on recent developments rather than on specific political pressures, and clarified that KKR could seek a replacement player once Rahman is released.
