Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has said that growing political tensions are now affecting cricket. After strong public reaction in India, the BCCI asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the 2026 IPL.
The decision comes at a time when India–Bangladesh relations are at their lowest point. Tensions increased further after Sheikh Hasina was removed as Bangladesh's Prime Minister in August 2024, and the impact is now being felt in the cricketing world as well.
Moeen Ali criticises politics entering cricket
Ali said the situation is becoming dangerous for the sport and stressed that politics should not interfere with cricket. He said, "Cricket is already in some danger because of these issues. On top of that, the Mustafizur incident has created a bigger problem. Honestly, something is not right. These problems need to be solved. It's not only about Mustafizur. Issues involving Pakistan and Bangladesh are also ongoing. This cannot continue. These are very serious problems."
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'Mustafizur is suffering the most,' says Moeen
Moeen Ali said he feels especially bad for Mustafizur Rahman. "He got such a good contract after years of strong performances. Finally, something good came his way. He could have played for another team, but KKR picked him, and now he is the one suffering the most," Ali said.
The former KKR player did not blame the Bangladesh Cricket Board for refusing to send its team to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup. He feels this is a reaction to the BCCI's decision. Moeen also spoke about power politics in world cricket, saying the BCCI has controlled the game for many years while boards like Australia and England stay silent.
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He said, "I read today that Bangladesh is not going to India and has also stopped IPL broadcasts. I don't blame Bangladesh. But those who are creating this situation are doing something very wrong. Cricket should be kept separate."
Moeen added, "The ICC is never neutral. That is the truth. Everyone knows who runs it, but nobody speaks up. Won't countries like Australia and England play a role? They also stay quiet."
