Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been removed from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the upcoming Indian Premier League following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The franchise confirmed the decision in a press release, stating that it acted on BCCI’s instructions. According to the report, the Indian government ordered the cricket board to exclude Mustafizur, allegedly to appease hardline Hindu nationalist groups that had opposed his inclusion.

The controversy has sparked widespread criticism in Bangladesh and beyond, with many fans condemning the move as politically motivated. BCCI Secretary Debajit Saikia told Indian media that the directive came from the government. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has yet to issue an official response, saying it has not received formal communication from BCCI. Meanwhile, Hindu nationalist leaders in India have publicly praised the decision, framing it as a victory for Hindu sentiment.

The incident has raised questions about the politicization of cricket and the safety of Bangladeshi players ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled in India next month.