Former Bangladesh Cricket Board general secretary and ex-Asian Cricket Council CEO Syed Ashraful Haque has sharply criticized the Indian cricket board’s decision to drop Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League following protests by Hindu nationalist groups. Speaking to the Times of India, Haque said the cricket administration across South Asia has become hostage to politicians. He argued that the decision has strained cricketing relations between India and Bangladesh, with the Bangladesh team now unwilling to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Haque accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of exploiting religious sentiments for political gain, particularly ahead of elections in West Bengal and Assam. He also questioned the leadership of current cricket administrators, including ICC chairman Jay Shah, saying earlier leaders were more mature and understood the spirit of the game. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has already written to the ICC requesting that its World Cup matches be moved to co-host Sri Lanka.

Haque said that even if boycotting the tournament causes financial loss, national dignity must come first. He emphasized that Bangladesh and India share a brotherly relationship, unlike India and Pakistan, but warned that the current situation threatens that goodwill.