Kolkata Knight Riders drops Mustafizur Rahman

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) announced that Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from its squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The franchise said the decision was taken after “due process” of consultation.

“Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI/IPL, as the regulator of IPL, has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming IPL season. The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, on the instructions of BCCI,” said the KKR in a press note.

“BCCI will allow KKR a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course,” the franchise said further.

The move triggered strong reactions from several quarters. The sports adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government has instructed authorities to stop the telecast of the IPL in Bangladesh.

The IPL season will start on March 26 and continue till May 31.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had permitted Mustafizur to play for KKR during this duration.

According to his schedule, the top Bangladeshi player was expected to return to Dhaka for only a week during the IPL season.

Mustafizur’s exclusion from the KKR squad after he was picked for Rs. 9.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction has sent a shockwave through a section of the Bangladesh media. Still, the BCB’s Najmul Abedin told news outlet Prothom Alo, “We have seen the news, but till now they have not informed us formally.”