BCCI Asks KKR to Part Ways With Mustafizur Rahman Ahead of IPL 2026 Amid Rising India–Bangladesh Tensions

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.

The decision, confirmed on Saturday, comes in the wake of broader developments that have heightened sensitivities around Bangladesh-related matters in India.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, speaking to ANI, stated that the board had formally conveyed its directive to the franchise. He added that KKR would be permitted to sign a replacement player, should they choose to do so, with the board ready to approve such a move. While no official circular detailing the exact reasons has been made public, the decision is widely seen as linked to the prevailing climate

surrounding India-Bangladesh relations.

#WATCH | Guwahati | BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia says, "Due to the recent developments that are 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… pic.twitter.com/53oxuRcmZp

- ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2026

The development coincides with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) unveiling its international calendar for 2026, which includes a home white-ball series against India later this year. As per the schedule, the Indian men's team is set to tour Bangladesh in August-September for three ODIs and three T20Is. This series effectively replaces the identical tour that was originally planned for 2025 but was postponed indefinitely.

Although the two boards had earlier attributed the 2025 postponement to scheduling constraints, reports at the time suggested that political unrest and security concerns in Bangladesh played a significant role in India's reluctance to travel. Those concerns appear to have resurfaced in recent weeks, with sections in India expressing strong opposition to KKR's inclusion of a Bangladeshi player in their IPL squad.

Public backlash has intensified following incidents of violence against Hindu minority communities in Bangladesh, prompting protests and boycott calls aimed at the franchise. Neither the BCCI nor the IPL governing council has issued a detailed statement on these protests, but the directive to KKR has further underlined the seriousness of the situation.

The strained atmosphere has already impacted bilateral cricketing plans. A women's series between India and Bangladesh was recently called off without an official explanation, with India instead playing a five-match series against Sri Lanka, which they won 5-0 under Harmanpreet Kaur.

According to the newly announced itinerary, India are expected to arrive in Bangladesh on August 28, with ODIs scheduled for September 1, 3, and 6, followed by T20Is on September 9, 12, and 13. However, with Mustafizur's IPL exit and ongoing political sensitivities, questions remain over whether these fixtures - and Bangladesh's participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 matches slated for India - will proceed as planned or shift to co-host Sri Lanka. The coming weeks are likely to bring greater clarity as both cricket boards navigate a rapidly evolving situation.