The decision to drop Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026 has created a stir in the cricket world. After his release by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the instructions of BCCI, the matter is no longer limited to IPL only, but seems to be affecting the schedule of T20 World Cup as well.
Shashi Tharoor’s sharp attack on BCCI
Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor strongly attacked BCCI regarding this decision. Calling it a sports related matter, he expressed deep objection to linking it with politics. Shashi Tharoor said, ‘I think this decision of BCCI is very shameful. This is completely unnecessary politicization of a sporting issue. There are many aspects of it on which I have objection.
Question on selection process
Tharoor also questioned why KKR was blamed if Mustafizur was in the list of BCCI-approved players. He said, ‘This decision makes no sense even from the cricketing point of view. Teams select players from the same registered pool, which is provided by the BCCI itself. If a player was in that list, then how can KKR be blamed for selecting him?
Objection to comparison with Pakistan
Shashi Tharoor also expressed strong displeasure over comparison between Bangladesh and Pakistan. He clearly said, ‘Bangladesh is not Pakistan. Bangladesh has not sent terrorists to India. The circumstances of both the countries and our diplomatic relations are completely different. You cannot weigh both in the same scale.
Moral questions regarding Hindu players
Tharoor also raised questions on the moral aspect of this decision and said that if social media pressure has become the yardstick, then the picture is even more serious. He said, ‘If any Bangladeshi Hindu player like Liton Das or Soumya Sarkar had been selected in the auction this year, would they have also been dropped? And if not, what message are we sending?’ He further added, ‘This player is not a hater, he has never said anything against the Hindus of India or Bangladesh. He is just a player. Then who are we punishing?
Impact on India’s image
Shashi Tharoor termed this entire incident as harmful for India’s image. He said, ‘This decision makes us look small as a country. This harms our diplomacy, our bilateral relations and our culture, which has been the hallmark of liberal thinking and big heart.
