New Delhi: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Saturday announced its decision to release bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the squad, amid protests from a section of fans and politicians who objected to keeping a Bangladeshi player in the tournament amid anti-India demonstrations and attacks on Hindus in the country.
The KKR announced the decision through an X post Saturday afternoon. “The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India.”
This comes hours after the BCCI directed the KKR to release the left-arm pacer from the squad “due to the recent developments which is going on all across.
“(The) BCCI has instructed franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad, and the BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, the BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia told ANI.
In the pre-tournament mini auction conducted on 16 December, the KKR bought the lanky left-armer for a whopping sum of Rs 9.2 crore, after a fierce bidding competition from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Delhi Capitals.
While seven Bangladesh players were included in the auction list, only Mustafizur Rahman attracted the attention of franchises.
This buy, however, triggered criticism against the Shah Rukh Khan-owned cricket club, the BCCI, and the IPL governing body.
India–Bangladesh ties have come under strain in the months since the ouster of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 in a student-led uprising. The simmering anti-India sentiment erupted in violent protests against New Delhi last month after the death of a student leader, which many in Bangladesh blamed on India, without any proof.
The protesters also targeted Hindus in the country, and at least four men from the minority community have been killed in such attacks, the latest death was reported on Saturday, in the past two weeks.
‘While Hindus being killed in Bangladesh’
Uttar Pradesh BJP leader Sangeet Som called SRK a “traitor” for signing Mustafizur for the whopping amount, while “Hindus were being killed in Bangladesh”.
The ex-MLA, who faced allegations of involvement in the Muzaffarnagar riots cases, also warned that players like Mustafizur will “not be able to step out of the airport”.
Spiritual Leader Devkinandan Thakur also criticised SRK. “I am a Hindu religious leader, and Hindus are being killed. Hindus are being killed in Bangladesh, and you have brought in a Bangladeshi cricketer in your team,” he said.
Imam Umar Ahmed Ilyasi, the chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation, demanded SRK apologise to the nation and give a statement condemning the atrocities being committed against Hindus in Bangladesh.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam had also requested SRK to remove the Bangladeshi cricketer from his team to “protect India’s interests and for his own good”.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey said, “Bangladeshi players shouldn’t be allowed to play on Indian soil in the IPL… Pakistani and Bangladeshi players should be prohibited. They harbour hatred towards us.”
He further said SRK would be “respected and honoured” if the player was removed from the team.
Death-over specialist
The 30-year-old Mustafizur Rahman, from Satkhira town in the Khulna Division of south-western Bangladesh, which is close to the border with India (West Bengal), is a death-over specialist.
Nicknamed “The Fizz”, the left-arm fast-medium bowler is famous for his tricky, fizzy bowling style. His deceptive slower off-cutters are known to leave the batsman guessing, making him a sought-after death bowler in the T20 format.
He is known to be the go-to bowler at the death for Bangladesh.
He started his IPL career in 2016 with the Sunrisers Hyderabad(SRH) and has played for the Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and the Chennai Super Kings . His performance in the last few years has embellished his reputation as a capable death overs bowler
It is yet to be seen who the KKR replaces Mustafizur Rahman with as the BCCI has allowed them to get one. It’s also to be seen whether Bangladeshi players will be allowed to play in the IPL in future seasons.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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The ridiculous double standards of our politicians and religious gurus are exposed now. They have labelled SRK a traitor. But Mustafizur Rehman was taken after a bidding war between DC, CSK and KKR raising his price from 2 cr to 9 cr. By those standards, the BJP should be calling Dhoni and the DC captain also traitors !!
I think it’s a right decision. You will only see unnecessary protests outside stadium because of a single player.
There is a bitter feeling amongst our people (which is justified) so it’s better to placate this. My question is why did we let them allow in the auction ? Anti India and anti Hindu sentiments are common for a year now so you should have been more pro active with this.