In a massive development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) management to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). Mustafizur, who had previously played in IPL for Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings, was bought for 9.20 crore by KKR in the IPL 2026 mini-auction last year in December.
The development around Mustafizur came amid a political storm from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other religious institutions, who objected to the cricketer’s inclusion in IPL 2026. The political backlash stems from the current strained relationship between the two countries.
Speaking to news agency ANI from Guwahati, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia revealed that the Indian board had instructed Shah Rukh Khan co-owned three-time champions KKR to release Mustafizur.
“Due to the recent developments that are going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, 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 said on Saturday.
