Congress MP Shashi Tharoor strongly condemned the decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), instructing the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman. This action followed controversies arising from the ongoing oppression of Hindus in Bangladesh, leading to questions about Rahman's inclusion in the KKR team. Social media users were questioning KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, BCCI, and the IPL tournament.
Amidst all this, BCCI directed KKR to release the player purchased for 9.2 crore rupees, assuring the franchise that they could sign a replacement. Finally, KKR released Rahman.
Shashi Tharoor Raised Questions
Shashi Tharoor responded fiercely to this decision, labeling it as reprehensible, and suggested that penalizing a cricketer due to the political situation in their country is wrong. The Congress leader expressed his disagreement on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), questioning whether BCCI would have made a similar decision if the player belonged to a different faith.
Tharoor wrote, 'Reiterating my previous thoughts on this subject, now that BCCI has disgracefully removed Mustafizur Rahman. And if the player were Liton Das or Soumya Sarkar from Bangladesh? Whom are we punishing here – a nation, an individual, or their religion? Where will this absurd politicization of sports lead us?'
India's former cricketer Atul Wassan defended KKR and Shah Rukh Khan, stating, 'Blaming Shah Rukh Khan is wrong, as he is not the sole owner of KKR, nor was KKR the only team that bid for the player. Removing a player won't make a significant difference.' he told ANI.
What Did Azharuddin Say
Former Indian captain and Telangana Minister Mohammad Azharuddin stated, 'The Board hasn't done anything wrong. What's happening in Bangladesh isn't good, but the situation in sports is different. The Board must have made its decision only after consulting with the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs...'
Read More: 9.20 Crore Bid, BCCI's Order, and KKR's Action... Full Stop on Mustafizur Controversy, Shah Rukh Also Targeted
What Manoj Tiwary Said
Minister in the West Bengal government and cricketer Manoj Tiwary mentioned, 'The decision from BCCI was delayed. It should have come earlier. Until justice is served to the families subjected to atrocities in Bangladesh, no player or series should engage with that country.'
Atrocities on Hindus Increase in Bangladesh
The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) reports that between June and December 2025, at least 71 cases of blasphemy-related charges against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh were registered. The report covers incidents across over 30 districts, including arrests, mob violence, vandalism of homes, expulsions from educational institutions, and lethal attacks. Even minors have been implicated in several cases.
