BCCI bows to social media pressure, orders KKR to release Mustafizur, Shashi Tharoor reacts

Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday confirmed that Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been released from their IPL 2026 squad following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) .

In a media advisory, the franchise said the decision was taken after instructions from the BCCI and IPL authorities. “Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI IPL, as the regulator of the IPL, has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming season,” the statement said, adding that the release was carried out following due process and consultations. The BCCI has permitted KKR to name a replacement player under IPL regulations.

Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board had asked the franchise to release the Bangladesh pacer citing “recent developments all across”, and said any request for a replacement would be approved.

Mustafizur, 30, had been picked up by the Kolkata based franchise for Rs 9.20 crore at the IPL auction in December, well above his base price of Rs 2 crore , after a bidding contest involving Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals .

The decision triggered a wider debate over the growing intersection of politics, public sentiment and sport. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioned the rationale behind the move, pointing to what he described as inconsistencies in how cricketing engagement is approached. He noted that India continues to play international matches against Pakistan despite strained diplomatic relations, even as sporting courtesies such as handshakes have at times been avoided, while a Bangladeshi player was asked to be released from an IPL franchise.

Tharoor said cricket should not be made to “bear the burden of politics” and stressed that Mustafizur has no personal role in attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, nor has he been accused of hate speech or condoning violence. He cautioned against isolating neighbouring countries and argued that sporting decisions should be insulated from political and social pressures.

While the BCCI has not officially cited public opinion as a factor, the timing of the directive has fuelled discussion within cricketing circles over whether social media pressure and public backlash played a role in the board’s decision. Observers say the episode highlights how off field developments increasingly influence franchise and league level decisions.

Within the cricket establishment, the development was largely seen as expected in the current climate, though it has also raised questions about consistency in applying such measures across different bilateral and multilateral cricketing engagements. The BCCI is yet to take a final call on the scheduled India Bangladesh bilateral series later this year .

The confirmation brings clarity to KKR’s squad position ahead of IPL 2026 , even as the episode underlines the complex space where sport, diplomacy and public sentiment continue to intersect.