Mustafizur Rahman faces threat for playing in IPL 2026, religious leaders warn of stadium invasion

Religious leaders in Ujjain have warned that they may disrupt IPL 2026 matches if Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman is allowed to play in the upcoming edition. The seers said they could storm stadiums and damage pitches to stop matches involving the cricketer, citing anger over recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

Mahavir Nath, chief priest of the Rinmukteshwar Mahadev Temple, told reporters that their men would take action because authorities are ignoring what they call the “persecution” of Hindus in Bangladesh. According to a news report by IANS, other religious organisations in India have issued similar warnings.

The controversy involves Mustafizur Rahman, who recently became the only Bangladeshi player to be sold in the IPL 2026 auction that took place in Abu Dhabi on December 16. He was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 9.20 crore. A section of social media users is criticising the team amid the ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

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Why are religious leaders threatening to disrupt IPL?

The anger is specifically linked to two brutal incidents that took place earlier this month. On December 18, a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker in Mymensingh district in Bangladesh was lynched to death over alleged blasphemy accusations. A few days later, a 29-year-old man in Rajbari’s Pangsha sub-district was attacked by villagers over extortion allegations. He died in the hospital.

The IANS report claims that religious leaders in Ujjain and other parts of India are angry over the recent incidents in Bangladesh and are calling for a boycott of IPL matches involving Mustafizur Rahman. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will have to be alert if it wants Mustafizur to participate in the IPL without any trouble.

Bangladesh has been in turmoil since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee the country after radical groups attacked Awami League offices and her official residence in August last year. She was given asylum by the Indian government and has since been living at an undisclosed location.

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After her exit, the country’s parliament was dissolved and an interim government was then formed to oversee the transition of power and conduct fresh elections. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed to lead the interim administration. Fresh elections to form a new government is scheduled to take place in February 2026.