KKR Release Mustafizur Rahman Following BCCI Instruction Ahead of IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders will head into the IPL 2026 season without Mustafizur Rahman after the franchise released the Bangladesh fast bowler following a directive from the BCCI, a move that has quickly drawn attention beyond cricketing reasons.

The decision was confirmed on Saturday after BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia revealed that the board had formally instructed KKR to let the left-armer go. 

“Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad, and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” said Saikia.

While the BCCI did not spell out the specific trigger behind the call, the move comes against the backdrop of heightened political and social discourse in India concerning developments in Bangladesh. Several Indian media outlets have reported criticism from spiritual and political figures over KKR’s inclusion of Mustafizur, with the franchise owner Shah Rukh Khan also being drawn into the debate.

KKR later issued a brief statement confirming that the release was carried out “following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India,” bringing clarity to speculation that had gathered pace through the week.

Just a day earlier, the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced its 2026 home season, which includes a white-ball series against India that had been postponed from 2025. Bangladesh is also scheduled to tour India for the T20 World Cup in February–March, though the BCB underlined that matters related to venues and security fall under the ICC’s jurisdiction. 

“The ICC is organising the World Cup; the host is India. If we have to contact anyone, we have to speak to the ICC,” BCB president Aminul Islam said.

For Mustafizur, the release brings an abrupt pause to his IPL journey. Since debuting in 2016, he has featured for five franchises and taken 65 wickets in 60 matches. 

Picked up by KKR for INR 9.2 crore at last year’s auction, he was the only Bangladesh player to secure an IPL contract for 2026 and is currently turning out for Rangpur Riders in the BPL.