Bangladesh Football Federation President Tawfiq Awal has strongly criticized India’s decision to exclude Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). According to the report, Hindu nationalist groups had been protesting to remove Mustafizur, leading the Indian government to instruct the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to act. Following that directive, Kolkata Knight Riders dropped the player from their squad.

Awal expressed deep disappointment, saying that Mustafizur was selected based on merit but was removed due to political pressure. He urged Indian authorities and the BCCI to keep politics out of sports, calling the move an act of injustice and intolerance against a world-class athlete targeted for his nationality. Awal emphasized that sports should unite people rather than divide them and reminded that historically, games have helped end conflicts and foster understanding.

He concluded by expressing solidarity with Mustafizur, assuring that the entire nation stands by him and encouraging him to stay strong.