A big controversy has arisen in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season around Bangladesh’s star pacer Mustafizur Rahman. The decision not to allow him to play in the tournament after being bought at a record price in the auction has raised a lot of questions and reactions in the cricketing world.
KKR bought at auction for a record price
In the IPL 2026 Auction, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), bought Mustafizur Rahman to the team for INR 9.20 Crore. This was the highest price for a Bangladeshi player in IPL history. Several franchises including Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC) showed interest in him during the auction.
After the auction, it was widely assumed that Mustafizur Rahman would play in the KKR jersey in the upcoming season. He was then injury-free and active in international cricket as well.
Suddenly the picture changes
Shortly after the auction came the sudden announcement that Mustafizur Rahman will no longer play for KKR in IPL 2026. The matter became more sensational when it was learned that this decision was not taken by the KKR management, but directly by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
KKR has been asked to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad due to “recent developments”, the BCCI Secretary said in a statement. However, no clear explanation has been given on what these “recent developments” are.
No reason was shown
The most important thing is –
behind this decision
- No injury issues
- poor form
- visa problem
- Or disciplinary issue
None of these were cited as reasons. As a result, the decision was non-cricketing.
Allegations of political and diplomatic influence
An analysis of the Indian and international media reveals that the recent political and social tensions surrounding India-Bangladesh relations have influenced this decision. Especially the minority issue and the internal political pressure of India came into discussion.
Because of this, according to many analysts, a professional cricketer has to be subjected to political realities outside the field.
Strong reaction in Bangladesh
In this incident, BangladeshThere was a huge reaction to this.
Officials of the country’s sports arena termed this decision as unacceptable and insulting.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) says cricket should be kept out of politics. The board decided to formally approach the BCCI and the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the matter.
Criticism within India too
This decision was criticized not only in Bangladesh but also in India. Opposition political leaders and former cricketers have openly said that dropping a player on political or communal grounds is against the spirit of cricket.
According to them, not only the player but also the acceptability of IPL and Indian cricket is in question.
Comparison with Pakistan
Note that since 2008, no Pakistani player has been able to play in the IPL due to political and security reasons. While there is no formal ban on Bangladeshi players, Mustafizur Rahman’s case is seen by many as a worrying sign in that direction.
By all accounts, the decision to drop Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026 is not a cricketing one, but a result of political and diplomatic realities. This incident is a clear example of how deep the influence of politics is on cricket in the subcontinent.
At the same time, it is the future Bangladeshi cricketers given rise to renewed uncertainty over their IPL participation.
