Following threats from religious authorities in Ujjain, Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been in the focus of a significant controversy ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026. The warnings coincide with growing indignation in India over recent violent assaults on Bangladeshi Hindu minority members.
The lone Bangladeshi cricket player chosen this season is Mustafizur, who was acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 9.20 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. His selection, though, has drawn a lot of criticism, with some calling for a boycott of KKR and others threatening to invade the pitch during IPL games if he is permitted to play.
In the meantime, some parties consider KKR’s choice to sign Mustafizur to be callous.
Posts attacking the team and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for permitting Bangladeshi players to play in the league have been all over social media.
Ascetic organisations may try to invade stadiums and interrupt matches involving the Bangladeshi pacer, according to a number of sibyls in Ujjain, including Mahavir Nath, the chief priest of the Rinmukteshwar Mahadev Temple. They claimed that while maintaining athletic ties, Indian officials were disregarding the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh.
Additionally, the religious leaders raised grave security concerns for the IPL organisers by threatening to vandalise pitches if Mustafizur is allowed to play. Similar sentiments have been expressed by other seer organisations. For the BCCI and IPL authorities, the controversy poses a serious dilemma, especially with regard to security planning. Since KKR will be playing games in several states, there is a significant chance of protests or other disturbances.
Mustafizur’s availability is also questionable because, according to Bangladesh’s cricket authority, his involvement in the early stages of the 2026 Indian Premier League may be restricted due to national obligations. There is conjecture that KKR would think about resting the pacer for the first few games in order to reduce tensions given the current turmoil.
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