BCCI decision to release Mustafizur taken at highest level without consultation
The decision to release Mustafizur Rahman from his IPL 2026 contract with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was taken at the highest level of the BCCI without consulting all officials or members of the IPL Governing Council, according to reports. A BCCI official revealed that many board members learned about the major decision through media reports, raising questions about the decision-making process behind one of the most controversial calls in IPL history.
“We got to know through the media”
According to a report by The Indian Express, not all members of the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council were present in the meeting where the decision to release Mustafizur from his IPL contract was taken. The report claims that the decision to release the left-arm pacer, bought for Rs 9.20 crore in the auction last month, was made at the highest level of the board without broader consultation.
“We ourselves got to know about this through the media. There was no discussion. No suggestion was taken from our side,” a BCCI official was quoted as saying.
The lack of consultation has surprised many within the cricket fraternity, given the magnitude of the decision and its potential diplomatic ramifications. The move marks the first time in IPL history that a player has been released on political grounds after being purchased at an auction.
BCCI secretary announces the decision
It was BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia who announced the big decision on Saturday, January 4, 2026. He said: “Due to the recent developments that are going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad.”
Saikia confirmed that KKR would be allowed to name a replacement player if required for the event scheduled to start on March 26, 2026.
Bangladesh retaliates with IPL telecast ban
In reply to the BCCI’s decision, the Bangladesh government announced a nationwide IPL telecast ban until further notice. The move represents a significant escalation in the cricketing dispute between the two nations.
“Due to this, a request is made as per instructions to stop the broadcast/telecast of all matches and programmes of the Indian Premier League,” the Bangladesh ministry said in a statement.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also withdrawn the No Objection Certificate (NoC) granted to Mustafizur to participate in the IPL, and is now demanding that all of Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka due to ‘safety and security’ concerns.
Escalating tensions between India and Bangladesh
Bilateral tensions between India and Bangladesh escalated over the past few weeks after a Hindu man was lynched and burned to death. Since the first incident a few weeks ago, a number of Hindu minorities have been attacked and killed in Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2025.
Since the first incident was reported, KKR and their co-owner Shah Rukh Khan have been targeted on social media, with many calling for the franchise to take action. The BCCI’s decision to instruct KKR to release Mustafizur appears to be a response to the growing public pressure and deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two countries.