Afghanistan’s Nabi shuts down question on Mustafizur and BCCI-BCB controversy: 'Don't have anything to do with politics'

Veteran Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi did not take too kindly to a question on the Mustafizur Rahman controversy and the subsequent breakdown in relations between the BCCI and the BCB, which in turn has led to complications for the ICC and the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Nabi was asked for his opinion on Mustafizur controversially getting released from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad, reportedly on the direction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.

Nabi steers clear of Mustafizur controversy

The spin-bowling all-rounder, however, lost his cool at the reporter asking the question, insisting he had nothing to do with the controversy.

“Iska merese kya lena dena bhai. Mera Mustafizur se kya kaam hai? Politics me kya kaam hai mera? (What do I have to do with it? How am I related to Mustafizur? I don’t have anything to do with politics),” said the 41-year-old, who plays for Noakhali Express in the 12th season of Bangladesh’s premier T20 league.

More from First Cricket

Exclusive | 'DC have good players but they have to find the perfect 12 and they have to deliver': Anjum Chopra Washington Sundar ruled out of remainder of India vs New Zealand ODI series due to rib injury

“I know he is a good bowler, all these things. But the way you are questioning, it’s not related to me,” he added.

Watch:

Respect for Nabi & Afghanistan +9999 📈

Afghan cricketer Md. Nabi, who is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), was asked about Mustafizur Rahman being released from the IPL.
Nabi got angry and refused to comment on the matter. 😡🤬

🇮🇳 🩷 🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/FoRFkPwpMy

— Jara (@JARA_Memer) January 12, 2026

‘Fizz’, who had made his IPL debut in 2016 and is one of Bangladesh greatest bowlers ever, had been acquired by three-time champions KKR for Rs 9.2 crore during the IPL auction last month.

Quick Reads

View All

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

However, the Knight Riders management, particularly co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, as well as the BCCI came under heavy criticism from cricket fans as well as politicians in India for picking a Bangladeshi player. Especially at a time of strained relations between New Delhi and Dhaka as well as reports of attacks on members of the Hindu minority community in the neighbouring country.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board later  hit back at the BCCI for Mustafizur’s sudden release without what they felt was a proper explanation by revoking the pacer’s No Objection Certificate for the IPL and by also refusing to travel to India for the T20 World Cup. The Muhammad Yunus-led Bangladesh government later banned the telecast of the world’s biggest T20 league, which will conduct its 19th season later this year, shortly after.

The ICC, meanwhile, is reportedly not too inclined to pay heed to Bangladesh's demand of refusing to travel to India for the T20 World Cup and instead play all of their matches in Sri Lanka like Pakistan.

The Dubai-based governing body, instead, is looking at the possibility of shifting the Bangla Tigers' group matches to Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram in southern India from Kolkata and Mumbai – where they are currently scheduled to play.