KKR Releases Pacer Mustafizur Rahman After BCCI Directive Amid Bangladesh-IPL Row

Hyderabad: Amid a row over the inclusion of Bangladesh player Mustafizur Rahman in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad, the IPL franchise on Saturday complied with the BCCI directive to release the pacer ahead of the upcoming IPL season.

The KKR, in a statement issued shortly after the BCCI asked the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise to release the Bangladesh pacer, said the "release has been carried out following due process and consultations".

"Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI/IPL, as the regulator of IP,L has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India," read the KKR statement.

"BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course," it said.

Earlier today, the BCCI asked the KKR to release the Bangladesh pacer ahead of the upcoming IPL season. "After observing recent developments, BCCI has instructed KKR, the IPL franchise, to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. Once he is released, if any request comes from KKR, BCCI will consider it and provide a replacement player," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told ANI.

According to sources, KKR was "not ready" to remove the Bangladesh pacer despite public pressure, which is why BCCI had to step in.

Mustafizur was picked by KKR for Rs 9.20 crore from a base price of Rs 2 crore after an intense bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the players' auction last month.

The pacer has taken 65 wickets in 60 matches at an economy rate of 8.13 since making his IPL debut with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016. 2016 was a dream season for him as he played a key role for SRH in their title run, taking 17 wickets from 16 matches with just an economy of 6.90. Later, he also played for Mumbai Indians (2018), Rajasthan Royals (2021), Delhi Capitals (2022-23), and Chennai Super Kings (2024).

After CSK failed to reach the playoffs, the 30-year-old pacer was released and then returned to DC last season to fill in for Australian player Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was ruled out due to injury.

Mounting Pressure

The pressure had been mounting on the BCCI over the participation of the Bangladesh cricketer amid the recent killing of a Hindu man in the country and India's expression of concern for the safety of minorities there. Recently, religious teacher Devkinandan Thakur publicly denounced KKR and Shah Rukh Khan for signing Mustafizur and said that "followers of the Sanatan Dharma, particularly Hindus, were offended" by KKR's decision, given the current situation concerning atrocities committed against the Hindu population in the neighbouring country.

BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said the decision by BCCI reflects the mood of the people. "Given the situation in Bangladesh where there are close to 3000 incidents of attacks on minorities, the lynching of Dipu Das... obviously, there was deep concern which was being expressed across the country by a large number of people that can it be business as usual in terms of a cricketer coming there, being paid to play cricket in India while the situation there is very worrisome and condemnable. In that context, if the BCCI has decided not to permit him to play, that reflects the mood in the nation. It certainly is a correct decision," Kohli said.

BJP leader Sangeet Singh Som thanked the BCCI for the move and said the "sentiments of 100 crore people cannot be taken lightly". "Thanks to BCCI for its decision in view of the 100 crore Sanatanis of India. We said yesterday that cognisance will be taken of this matter because the sentiments of 100 crore people cannot be taken lightly... This is the victory of the Hindus of the entire nation," Som said.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Narendra Kashyap also welcomed the decision. "They understood the sentiments of the nation and removed the Bangladeshi player as atrocities being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh," he said.

Earlier, BJP leader Kaustav Bagchi had publicly objected to the participation of Bangladeshi players in IPL fixtures.

Bilateral Cricket Uncertain

India and Bangladesh cricket boards had postponed a white-ball bilateral series last year. The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Friday said the series will be played there in September this year. However, the BCCI is non-committal on the schedule and is unlikely to agree to it given the volatile political situation in Bangladesh, PTI reported on Saturday.

Bangladesh are also scheduled to play their T20 World Cup games in India next month. The relationship between the two countries hit a rough note after the ouster of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year following anti-government protests.

She was sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal this year for her alleged role in a deadly crackdown during the agitation in which several students were killed. Dhaka summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma five times over various issues, while India summoned Bangladesh's High Commissioner Reaz Hamidullah once to express concerns over security in Bangladesh.

The transition, from what was widely regarded as an "India-friendly" Awami League government to Muhammad Yunus-led interim dispensation, significantly altered Bangladesh's diplomatic position. Dhaka's engagement with Pakistan to deepen ties further complicated the regional equation.

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