Arun Dhumal, the chairman of the Indian Premier League, has opened up on the controversial exit of Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad earlier this year, terming the entire episode as “unfortunate.”
The Bangladesh pacer, who was the only player from his country picked during the IPL 2026 auction, had been roped in by KKR for a hefty INR 9.5 crore. However, his sudden release in January, following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) amid rising diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh, sparked widespread backlash.
Speaking on the same issue, Dhumal admitted he was not fully aware of the details behind the development but acknowledged the situation’s unfortunate nature.
“I would only say it was unfortunate. Beyond that, I do not have much knowledge,” Dhumal was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.
He further clarified that the Indian government does not intervene in the day-to-day functioning of cricket operations, while continuing to support the sport at a broader level.
“It is unfortunate, I would say, the way things unfold at times. I do not think the government has any interest or any role to play in running cricket day to day. The government is supportive of cricket at large,” he stated.
“But, yes, sometimes events happen around us and decisions follow. I am sure good sense will prevail and that this will not be the case going forward,” he concluded.
Earlier, KKR had released an official statement confirming that Mustafizur's exit was in line with instructions received from the BCCI.
The move also had significant repercussions in Bangladesh, where it reportedly led to a ban on IPL broadcasts. The Bangladesh Cricket Board is also understood to have taken a strong stance, including barring the national team from travelling to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The matter was escalated to the International Cricket Council, with Bangladesh requesting a venue change to Sri Lanka. However, the appeal was rejected, and in a dramatic turn of events, Bangladesh were eventually replaced by Scotland in the marquee event.
