Mustafizur Rahman has found himself under intense scrutiny ever since his unexpected exclusion from the Kolkata Knight Riders' squad for the Indian Premier
League 2026. The Bangladesh left-arm pacer was snapped up for a hefty Rs 9.20 crore at the auction last month, only to be released later following directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) amid rising political tensions linked to minority issues in Bangladesh.
While the episode sparked widespread debate off the field, Mustafizur's response has been clear and emphatic - let the cricket do the talking.
Turning out for Rangpur Riders in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Mustafizur has delivered performances that underline his reputation as one of the most reliable death-over specialists in the game. His standout moment came on Sunday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, where he produced a nerve-shredding final over to seal a dramatic five-run victory over Dhaka Capitals.
Defending 10 runs in the last over with six wickets in hand, Rangpur looked under serious threat. Mohammad Mithun had already struck a half-century and Sabbir Rahman remained a dangerous presence at the crease. Yet Mustafizur held his composure, conceding just four singles in the final over to flip the match on its head. He ended with figures of 4-0-23-1, as Rangpur tightened their grip near the top of the points table.
After the game, Rangpur captain Nurul Hasan Sohan shed light on how Mustafizur has handled the IPL setback. "For us, Mustafiz is a world-class bowler. He has been proving that for a long time. Everyone has confidence in him. There's nothing more to say about him-everyone is always impressed," Sohan said during the post-match press conference.
Sohan also acknowledged that while the disappointment may still seeps through, Mustafizur has not let it affect his mindset. "He is relaxed and at ease. At the same time, there may still be some disappointment (regarding the KKR issue). He deserves what he has now-and he deserved even more before. But I think he's doing just fine," he added.
Further highlighting Mustafizur's calm approach, Sohan remarked, "To be honest, I don't follow social media that much. I don't really know very much about what's happening outside. Yeah, people were talking about it. Mustafiz might feel bad. He always dreams of giving his best for Bangladesh. To me it seems he's calm. "
Mustafizur himself kept his reaction understated, posting on X after the match: "Pleased to step up when it matters. Glad to contribute in the victory. Onto the next one. "
