Kolkata, January 3: Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been released by Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders after the Board of Control for Cricket in India directed the team to do so in view of escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh.
The three-time IPL champions had secured the services of the 30-year-old left-arm pacer for ₹9.20 crore at last month’s auction, following a competitive bidding process involving Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. Rahman had entered the auction with a base price of ₹2 crore and was set to feature for KKR for the first time in the upcoming season.
Confirming the development, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board had instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release the Bangladesh international. He added that the franchise has been permitted to seek a replacement player if required and that the BCCI would approve such a request. When asked about the reason behind the decision, Saikia cited recent developments impacting the broader situation.
In an official statement, Kolkata Knight Riders said it had complied with the directive issued by the BCCI and IPL authorities. The franchise stated that the release was carried out after due consultations and in accordance with the process laid down by the league’s governing body.
The decision comes amid mounting pressure on the BCCI regarding Rahman’s participation following reports of violence in Bangladesh, including the killing of a Hindu man, and India’s expressed concerns over the safety of minorities in the neighbouring country. The issue also sparked political criticism, with some leaders from the ruling BJP questioning KKR’s decision to sign the Bangladeshi bowler, even targeting the franchise’s co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.
Mustafizur Rahman has been a regular presence in the IPL since 2016, missing only the 2019 and 2020 editions. Over the years, he has represented Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. The forthcoming season was set to mark his debut with KKR. Neither Rahman nor the Bangladesh Cricket Board has issued a response to the development so far.
While Rahman was cleared to enter the IPL auction, relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated in recent months due to political instability in Dhaka. His release has also raised questions about the future participation of Bangladeshi cricketers in the IPL, similar to the long-standing exclusion of Pakistani players due to bilateral tensions.
Cricketing ties between the two nations have already been affected. A white-ball bilateral series scheduled last year was postponed, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board recently stating that it would be played in September. However, the BCCI has not confirmed the schedule and is believed to be cautious given the prevailing situation in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh are also slated to play their T20 World Cup matches in India next month, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. Diplomatic relations between the two countries worsened following the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India last year amid widespread protests. Subsequent developments, including her sentencing in absentia and Dhaka’s outreach to Pakistan, have further strained ties between New Delhi and the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.
