Kolkata Knight Riders has released Mustafizur Rahman amid controversies surrounding him and the BCCI’s mandate ahead of the IPL 2026 season. His inclusion in the KKR team has sparked widespread debate, and politicians and parties targeted the team owner Shah Rukh Khan. Though, the stalwart Bangladeshi fast bowler did not have any direct role in Bangladesh's ongoing situation. A few days ago, the protesters of Bangladesh, set ablaze a living Bangladeshi Hindu, following that Shiv Sena and BJP ministers and leaders started questioning Fizz’s inclusion in the IPL. The left-arm pacer was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders at the auction for Rupees 9.2 crore and he became the highest-paid Bangladeshi cricketer ever. KKR will have to fill the vacancy and the BCCI allowed them to get a replacement from the remaining players. The decision was not linked to performance or fitness but stemmed from developments outside the sporting sphere, which triggered backlash and public discussion.
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What went wrong?
Former KKR and India cricketer Aakash Chopra weighed in on the issue, questioning what fault Mustafizur had committed as a professional athlete. Chopra pointed out that the pacer was effectively caught in circumstances beyond his control, drawing a parallel with Pakistani players who have long been excluded from the IPL due to broader geopolitical tensions. His remarks highlighted that such outcomes often affect players personally, even when decisions are driven by factors unrelated to cricket.
Releasing a media advisory KKR stated "Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI/IPL as the regulator of IPL has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.”
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"The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India. BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course.” They added.
What lies ahead?
Following BCCI’s decision the Bangladesh Cricket Board expressed their disgust and asked ICC to change their venue to Sri Lanka for the T20I World Cup. Cricbuzz confirmed that they will release a press release on this soon. Though, ICC and BCCI do not give clarity on this. This decision gave an alarming call to Bangladeshi players that they might not get teams to play in the IPL in near future.
Just a day before the controversy BCB announced that they will host India for a bilateral series in August. Though, it is expected that BCB will cancel the tour too.
The episode has reignited conversations about the separation of sport and politics, with many arguing that players should not bear the consequences of issues they neither influence nor represent. For Mustafizur, the situation remains an unfortunate reminder of how external factors can impact sporting careers. The left-arm pacer famous for his death bowling and off cutter speciality played for Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively.
KKR Media Advisory. ???? pic.twitter.com/ZUZB620Uv7
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) January 3, 2026
