Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was signed for Rs 9.20 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025. But after KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan faced
backlash in India over his signing, the BCCI asked the Kolkata-based franchise to drop Rahman from their squad. Rahman was the only cricketer from Bangladesh to secure an IPL deal and after his exit no player from Bangladesh will feature in the 2026 edition of the world’s richest franchise cricket league.
His exit from IPL 2026 created a lot of chaos in cricket relations between India and Bangladesh, and amid uncertainty over Bangladesh’s travel to India for T20 World Cup 2026, a significant update has emerged from Bangladesh.
As per the available information, Rahman, who is Bangladesh’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, was reportedly offered a chance to take action against KKR over his forced exit from their IPL 2026 squad, but he has decided not to stretch the matter.
Mohammad Mithun, who is the President of the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), on Thursday (January 15) revealed that a potential legal or administrative battle against the three-time IPL champions was contemplated, but the idea was dropped at Mustafizur’s insistence.
According to Mithun, the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), which is the global body for players’ unions, informed CWAB that they can take action against KKR for the termination of the contract, as his exit from the cash-rich league was not based on cricketing merit or injury. But, Mustafizur opted not to stretch the matter.
During a press conference on Thursday, Mithun said, “The WCA was ready to support a formal protest or legal inquiry into the contract termination. Based on this personal choice by the veteran pacer, CWAB officially dropped the protest idea.”
Mustafizur’s record in IPL
30-year-old Mustafizur has played 60 IPL matches so far for five teams — Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals — and dismissed 65 batters. He picked up 17 wickets in 17 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad (2016-2017), 7 wickets in 7 matches for Mumbai Indians in 2018, 14 wickets for 14 matches in 2021, 14 wickets in nine matches for CSK in 2024 and 13 wickets in 13 matches for Delhi Capitals across three seasons.
