The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ordered Kolkata Knight Riders to immediately release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the squad.
The order comes ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.
The advice, confirmed by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, comes amid growing concerns in India over recent violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board had advised the Kolkata Knight Riders to release the pacer due to “recent developments happening everywhere”.
The decision was taken following a strong response from political leaders and religious organisations.
Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan had been publicly criticised by prominent figures including BJP and Shiv Sena leaders for signing a Bangladeshi player despite strained bilateral ties.
Kolkata Knight Riders acquired Mustafizur Rahman for a whopping sum of Rs 9.20 crore in the December 2025 mini-auction after competitive bidding with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified that Kolkata Knight Riders will be allowed to look for a foreign replacement to fill the vacancy in their roster.
The removal of Mustafizur, the only Bangladeshi player selected in the 2026 auction, marks a rare instance of the governing body intervening in the management of the IPL for non-cricketing reasons.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated since the death of a Hindu man in Mymensingh last month and subsequent reports of communal violence.
Religious leaders and political activists had threatened to disrupt matches in Kolkata if a Bangladeshi player remained in the squad.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had initially maintained that there was no official ban on Bangladeshi cricketers, the latest order suggests that this was a precautionary move to ensure the stability of the tournament.
Kolkata Knight Riders now face the challenge of finding a high-quality left-arm fast bowler at short notice.
Kolkata Knight Riders had expected Mustafizur to be a pillar of their bowling attack, especially considering his extensive IPL experience since 2016.
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