IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders: Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman will not play in IPL 2026. Kolkata Knight Riders have released him from their squad. In fact, amidst strong protests in India, the BCCI had taken a major decision regarding Mustafizur Rahman's participation in IPL 2026. BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia had stated that the board had ordered Shah Rukh Khan's IPL franchise, KKR, to release Mustafizur Rahman. Following violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, several organizations in India had demanded that Mustafizur not be allowed to play in the upcoming IPL season and be removed from the KKR team.
The BCCI secretary informed the media about the board’s order in a statement on Saturday, January 3. “In view of the recent developments, the BCCI has directed the KKR franchise to release one of their Bangladeshi players, Mustafizur Rahman, from their squad,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said.
Main Reason behind this Decision
Several Hindu individuals were recently murdered in Bangladesh, which sparked outrage among the Indian people. The atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh were widely condemned in India. The photos and videos that emerged from Bangladesh on social media further fueled the anger of the Indian public. Following this, several organizations demanded that Bangladeshi players be excluded from the IPL 2026. They argued that when Hindus are being attacked in Bangladesh, how can their players come and play in India? Devkinandan Thakur also protested against this. Several leaders of the BJP and Shiv Sena criticized Shah Rukh Khan and KKR for not respecting the sentiments of the nation. BJP leader Sangeet Som even called Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan a "traitor" for signing a Bangladeshi player.
Concern for Kolkata Knight Riders Team
Mustafizur Rahman's absence is a major blow for the Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR had acquired Mustafizur Rahman for a hefty sum of ₹9.20 crore. They bought the left-arm pacer in the mini-auction held on December 16, 2025. His base price was ₹2 crore. After a bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, KKR successfully secured the 30-year-old bowler for their team.
The team had paid him a hefty sum, seeing him as a match-winner. However, the team will no longer be able to avail of his services in the upcoming season. Mustafizur is an experienced bowler. His exceptional bowling, especially in the death overs, could have been very effective for KKR. The Bangladeshi left-arm pacer has previously played for several franchises in the IPL and has impressed with his variations and effective performances under pressure. Mustafizur Rahman has been playing in the IPL since 2016. He has been a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and CSK. He has taken 65 wickets in 60 IPL matches.
Bangladesh Tour of India 2026
However, the BCCI secretary has not yet commented on the upcoming tour of Bangladesh. India is scheduled to tour Bangladesh in September 2026 to play three ODIs and three T20Is. The Bangladesh Cricket Board announced the schedule on Friday, stating that the Indian team will arrive in Dhaka on August 28. This series was originally scheduled for August of last year, but it was rescheduled due to unrest in Bangladesh. It remains to be seen what decision the BCCI will make regarding this tour in the coming days, given the tense situation in Bangladesh and the protests against it in India.
