The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 roster, with permission granted to the franchise to sign a replacement, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed on Saturday.
Indian outlets reported that the decision follows recent controversies and political pressure surrounding Bangladeshi participation, though the BCCI has not issued a detailed public rationale. KKR and Mustafizur had not immediately commented at the time of reporting.
Mustafizur was KKR’s lone Bangladeshi acquisition at the December auction, purchased for ₹9.2 crore—reportedly a record fee for a Bangladeshi player in the league. The directive represents a significant roster setback for the Shah Rukh Khan–owned franchise ahead of the new season.
Further updates are expected as KKR evaluates replacement options under the BCCI’s approval.