The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the coming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the year 2026. This was revealed on Saturday by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia in a statement to news agency ANI.
The order came in view of certain recent developments regarding reports about Hindus being subjected to violence in Bangladesh, Saikia told ANI. He also added that KKR will be allowed to sign a replacement player as soon as Rahman is officially discharged from the team.
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"Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchisee KKR to release one of their player Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh from their squad, and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement," Saikia added.
Rahman’s IPL 2026 signing controversy
KKR has picked up Mustafizur Rahman during the mini-auction for IPL that took place in Abu Dhabi, with a bid of INR 9.20 crore from a tough competition among Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings. The move has come under controversy due to tensions existing in diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.
In recent days, KKR, along with its other co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, has received heavy criticism from certain political leaders regarding their decision to keep a Bangladeshi player at a time when things aren't quite right. Several leaders from the BJP and Shiv Sena criticised Shah Rukh Khan and the Kolkata Knight Riders, accusing the franchise of ignoring national sentiment while signing a Bangladeshi player.
Tensions fueled by violence in Bangladesh
The tensions were reignited when Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu, was killed in Mymensingh earlier last month. There were other events of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh reported in the news, adding fuel to the fire for Rahman to leave the IPL squad. Amid the growing criticism, BJP leader Sangeet Som publicly targeted the Bollywood actor, describing him as a “gaddar (traitor)” for going ahead with the signing despite the prevailing situation.
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No comment on India’s Bangladesh tour
While dealing with the Rahman case, the secretary of the BCCI did not make any comment on the Indian tour to Bangladesh in September 2026. As reported by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), India will play three ODIs and three T20Is, arriving on August 28. This had been previously postponed due to the disturbances happening within the country.
Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL career
His last season in the IPL was in IPL 2025, where he played for the Delhi Capitals. He played there as a replacement and played three matches, taking four wickets. Speaking of his overall records in the IPL, he has played 60 matches and taken 65 wickets. He has played for various teams such as Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Chennai Super Kings.
