Mustafizur Axed: What new Really Happened

Jan 05, 2026 - By Ashutosh Roy Current AffairsPolitics

Key Highlights

1. Mob Lynching in Bangladesh: How Dipu Das’s Killing Sparked Attacks on Mustafizur Rahman?
2. Is religious polarization now destroying cricket in India, a game once above politics and hate?
3. Has the BCCI lost its glorious autonomy or has it become the puppet of political power lobby?
4. Why did Shah Rukh Khan, owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, remain silent while accepting a controversial BCCI diktat without protest?
5. Did Shashi Tharoor Speak for Millions of Indian Cricket Fans?

Why Was Mustafizur Dropped from IPL?

Mustafizur Rahman suddenly grabbed headlines. However, this time it was not for a hat-trick or a match-winning cricket performance. Instead, the Yorker specialist made news for a completely non-cricketing reason.

Consequently, KKR dropped him from the IPL, the world’s richest cricket tournament. In formal terms, he was “released.” Kolkata Knight Riders let him go.

But the real reason points to the BCCI. In other words, this reflects a disturbing attempt to politicize cricket. Moreover, it reveals a shameless show of aggressive nationalism. Here, cricket takes a backseat, and politics dominates the spotlight.

Is Nationalism Replacing Fair Play in IPL?

What exactly happened? KKR had bought Mustafizur at the auction for ₹9.2 crore. However, following a BCCI directive, the franchise released him. So, why did the BCCI suddenly issue such an order? A few days ago in Bangladesh, Dipu Das was a victim of mob lynching.

In other words, it was an incident of violence against religious minority Hindus. But an important question remains. Has anyone ever heard Mustafizur Rahman giving hate speech? Did he ever support or endorse religious or communal extremism in any form? The answers are clear. No and Never.

This is not the first IPL season for Mustafizur Rahman. He has been playing in the IPL since 2016. He missed only two seasons  due to COVID. Over the years, he has represented Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

At the same time, violence against Hindus in Bangladesh is not a new issue. It did not begin today. Yet, only now KKR dropped Mustafizur.

That is why Shashi Tharoor raised a sharp question.If the player’s name were Litton Das or Soumya Sarkar, would he have been treated the same way?

Therefore, this is not just the politicization of cricket. More dangerously, it signals the communalization of the sport itself.

When religious Politics Overpowered Cricket: Mustafizur

Now, let us see who pushed the campaign to stop Mustafizur Rahman from playing. The answer points clearly to the BJP. In West Bengal, BJP leaders Kaustav Bagchi and Saikat Som openly raised the issue. Their statements helped fuel the controversy.

Ironically, after becoming the West Bengal BJP state president, Shamik Bhattacharya spoke about inclusive development. This raises a serious question.

Is this really the BJP’s official stand? If not, then why is Samik Bhattacharya silent?

Why has he not called Kaustav Bagchi, or addressed the media to clarify the party’s position? Meanwhile, the pressure did not come from one side alone. There were also voices from Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission. Therefore, what we are seeing is a coordinated political narrative, where cricket becomes a tool, and a player becomes a target.

The involvement of several religious organizations also becomes vivid. However, naming them in a cricket context is unnecessary. India has seen moments like this before. When blind people targeted players with religious hate  such as Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, or Shami were , Virat Kohli stood up firmly in their defense.

Cricket not Religion: Narendra Modi

Moreover, after India lost the World Cup final, Prime Minister Narendra Modi entered the Indian dressing room. He hugged Shami and offered him solace. So, this raises a troubling question. In the same country, can an IPL team be forced to release a player only because he is a Bangladeshi cricketer?

This contradiction exposes a deep crisis in the spirit of sport, where performance is taking the backseat leaving the pillion’s seat to nationality and religion.

What Role Did BCCI Play in the Exit?

Now let us turn to the BCCI and KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan. The BCCI is an autonomous body. Unfortunately, its top positions are often occupied by political leaders or their supporters. Some of them may have never even held a bat or ball. This raises a serious concern.

Was This Decision About Cricket or Politics?

Why should a few political parties or religious groups influence an autonomous cricket body? If that happens, it stops being cricket. Instead, it becomes an unofficial stage for politics. We have seen this trend before. Just recently, during the Asia Cup, politics was openly and aggressively promoted.

Why Are Individual Players like Mustafizur Being Targeted?

Yet, the same BCCI allowed this same India to play against Pakistan in Dubai. Moreover, India continues to play cricket with Bangladesh without interruption. So, a crucial question arises.

If international matches are permitted, why are restrictions suddenly imposed on individual players? Why does the burden of politics fall only on small cricketers, not on powerful boards or big decisions?

This selective approach exposes a clear double standard. It proves that the issue is not national interest, but the unfair targeting of players who have no role in politics at all.

Why Did KKR Accept the Order of Mustafizur Silently?

Now comes the role of KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan, often called the “Badshah of Bollywood.” Why did he accept the BCCI’s directive without any protest? Could he not have at least placed a formal objection on record?

After all, Shah Rukh Khan was once the brand ambassador of West Bengal. So, one must ask this bluntly. Does he have even a basic understanding of Bengal’s culture, a culture known for pluralism, resistance, and standing up for fairness?

What This Means for the Future of Cricket

In my view, no sensible and conscientious person can support the politicization of cricket. Sport should unite people, not divide them. When politics enters the field, the spirit of the game is lost.

Latest Update

January 05, 2026 at 15:30

Bangladesh Government has banned IPL telecast in Bangladesh for indefinite time. The political row has erupted in the awake of Mustafizur Rahman event. The Broadcast Minister announced the decision of sudden release has shocked the.