Mustafizur Rahman released from KKR squad after BCCI diktat, franchise allowed to sign replacement

Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) informed the franchise to do so. The release of the left-arm pacer comes amid the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh where minorities in the country have been targetted.

Mustafizur, the only Bangladesh player in the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), was bought by KKR for Rs 9.2 crore, the highest ever for any Bangladesh cricketer in the league. However, as reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh increased, there was growing demand of removing Mustafizur from the league.

BCCI on Saturday confirmed that KKR had been instructed to release Mustafizur and the franchise too has now said that they have obliged to the board’s diktat.

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KKR confirm Mustafizur release

KKR stated in a release on Wednesday that Mustafizur has been released from the squad following due process.

“Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI/IPL as the regulator of IPL has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India,” the franchise said.

“BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course,” the statement from the three-time IPL champions read.

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Earlier, BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia too had said that the recent unrest in Bangladesh had led to the board taking the decision to remove Mustafizur from the league.

“Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh from their squad and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” Saikia told ANI.

Hindus face attacks in Bangladesh

Minorities in Bangladesh have been heavily targetted since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

The recent public lynching of a Hindu man named Dipu Chandra Das shocked India and the demands for KKR to remove Mustafizur from the team grew after that.

“The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhist at the hands of extremists, is a matter of great concern. We condemn the recent gruesome killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice,” MEA recently said.

Mustafizur remains the only overseas player to win the Emerging Player award in IPL and has played 60 matches in the league to take his 65 wickets.