Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders have been ordered to release fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from Bangladesh, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Devajit Saikia said on Saturday, amid rising tensions between the countries.
The development comes after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sangeet Som slammed Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan for introducing Mustafizur into his franchise, calling him a traitor.
Mustafizur’s selection to play for KKR comes amid allegations mainly from the Indian right regarding attacks on Hindus.
Last month, hundreds of people protested near the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi after Hindu laborer Dipu Chandra Das was beaten and set on fire in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district by a mob who accused him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
A total of 12 people have been arrested in connection with his death.
“Due to the recent developments happening everywhere, the BCCI has asked the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise to release one of its players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from its squad,” Saikia said. said Indian News Agency ANI.
“They can request a replacement if necessary. And on request, the BCCI will allow a replacement player.”
“The BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders to have a replacement player as per IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course,” the team added in a statement.
Reuters contacted Mustafizur for comment.
Mustafizur, 30, has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals in previous IPL seasons, taking 65 wickets in 60 matches.
He was signed by Kolkata in last month’s auction for a fee of 92 million Indian rupees ($1.02 million), making him the most expensive Bangladeshi player in IPL history.
According to the Hindustan Timesopposition Congress party on Thursday condemned Som’s criticism of Khan for inducting Mustafizur into his franchise.
While calling Khan a “gaddar” (traitor), former Uttar Pradesh MP Som questioned him for investing money in a player “from a country working against India”.
THE Hindustan Times quoted in a video clip of him saying: “In the same way Hindus are persecuted in Bangladesh, women and girls are raped, their houses are burnt and anti-Indian slogans are chanted there.
“Despite all this, traitors like Shahrukh Khan, I call him a traitor because everything he has is given by India, given by the people of India, but where are they investing this money? They are investing it in players from a country that is working against India. I want to tell people like Shahrukh that they will not succeed.”
The incident has worsened relations between India and its neighbor, with ties already strained after former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi following protests against her in 2024.
The 19th edition of the IPL begins on March 26, after India and Sri Lanka co-hosted the Twenty20 World Cup starting in February.
