KKR drop Mustafizur Rahman from squad following BCCI directive

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise confirmed the decision in an official statement on Saturday (January 3).

In its statement, KKR said the BCCI had instructed to release Mustafizur ahead of the upcoming phase of the Indian Premier League. The franchise added that the decision was taken in compliance with BCCI guidelines and that, under IPL rules, KKR will be allowed to sign a replacement player.

KKR, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, had signed Mustafizur at the IPL auction for Rs 9.2 crore. In recent weeks, some hardline Hindu nationalist groups in India had been campaigning for Mustafizur’s exclusion from the IPL, citing allegations of persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the decision was taken in view of the prevailing unrest across the country. “KKR has been instructed to release one player, and the franchise has been permitted to sign a replacement in place of Mustafizur,” he said.