Actor and co-owner of IPL franchise KKR, Shah Rukh Khan, within the stands throughout a KKR match. — BCCI
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) proprietor Shah Rukh Khan has come below intense criticism after the franchise included Bangladesh quick bowler Mustafizur Rahman for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
Politicians and spiritual figures in India publicly focused the actor over the signing, in accordance with Indian media studies.
Amid the backlash, the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed KKR to launch Mustafizur from their squad for IPL 2026, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia mentioned.
Saikia mentioned the instruction was issued as a consequence of “recent developments that are going on all across”, including that if KKR asks for a alternative, the board will enable it.
Indian media reported that KKR picked Mustafizur at an public sale held in December for Indian rupees 92 million, a transfer that drew criticism and allegations that the choice ran in opposition to “national sentiments” within the context raised by these opposing the signing.
Among the many reactions cited, Hindu non secular chief Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya labelled Shah Rukh Khan a “traitor” for hiring the Bangladesh participant, whereas one other spiritual determine, Devkinandan Thakur, additionally criticised the transfer and demanded the signing be revoked.
Thakur was additionally quoted as demanding that INR 92 million be paid to households of Hindu kids he mentioned had been murdered, linking his criticism to what he described as focused atrocities in opposition to Hindus in Bangladesh.
Political criticism was additionally reported. Shiv Sena (UBT) was quoted as calling Bangladeshis “enemies” and urging KKR to drop such gamers and select Indian cricketers.
Shiv Sena chief Sanjay Nirupam criticised the signing and mentioned the Indian authorities wanted to intervene, including that the actor ought to take away the participant to keep away from being focused.
Individually, Indian media quoted Maharashtra Minority Fee Chairman Pyare Khan as calling for decisive motion to guard minority communities and interesting for a ban on such gamers “so that a message can be sent”.
In one other response, BJP chief Sangeet Som, a former Uttar Pradesh legislator, additionally referred to as Shah Rukh Khan a “traitor” and warned that gamers like Mustafizur would “not be able to step out of the airport” if they arrive to India, once more referencing the December public sale and the INR 92 million payment.
