Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad despite being signed earlier, following a directive reportedly influenced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision was justified on security grounds amid heightened political tensions between India and Bangladesh. The move has sparked debate on both sides of the border, linking it to the exile of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after resigning during anti-government protests last year.

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif expressed surprise at what he called India’s double standards, noting that while Hasina remains in India, Mustafizur has been denied participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The controversy follows protests by Hindu nationalist groups in India over alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, which led to calls for excluding Bangladeshi players from the IPL. Mustafizur, who was sold for 92 million rupees, was subsequently dropped, and KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan was labeled “traitor” by critics.

In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not send its team to the upcoming World Cup in India, citing security concerns and requesting a venue change.