Indian Premier League (IPL) chair Arun Singh Dhumal feels Mustafizur Rahman’s ouster from the 2026 season was ‘unfortunate’.
Why KKR released Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026 squad
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had signed Mustafizur Rahman in the IPL 2026 auction for INR 9.20 crore, but later released him after instructions from the BCCI. The board’s secretary, Devajit Saikia, said that the decision was taken due to “recent developments”, widely thought to be referring to the uproar in India after the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu, following accusations of blasphemy in Bangladesh.
The saga spiralled into an even bigger issue after Bangladesh refused to travel to India for the T20 World Cup, asking that all their matches instead be played in Sri Lanka, who were co-hosting the event. Pakistan, too, threatened to pull out, only to later backtrack. The ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the World Cup, while KKR signed Blessing Muzarabani as Mustafizur’s replacement.
I am sure good sense will prevail and that this will not be the case going forward: IPL chair Arun Singh Dhumal
Now, addressing the Bangladesh pacer’s ouster, Dhumal felt the developments were unfortunate and hoped that such instances would not be repeated in the future. He added that the Indian government did not have any role to play in the regular running of cricket in the country.
“It is unfortunate, I would say, the way things unfold at times,” he told Financial Times. “I do not think the government has any interest or any role to play in running cricket day to day. The government is supportive of cricket at large. But, yes, sometimes events happen around us and decisions follow. I am sure good sense will prevail and that this will not be the case going forward.”
When further asked if BCCI pressurised KKR into taking the call, Dhumal said: “I would only say it was unfortunate. Beyond that, I do not have much knowledge.”
Mustafizur went on to join Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League and has since taken two wickets in two games for them. Muzarabani has been effective for KKR, on the other hand, having picked up four wickets in two games, all against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
