Shashi Tharoor, Priyank Kharge slam BCCI over release of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL

Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Priyank Kharge have launched sharp criticism in opposition to the BJP and the Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI) after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been instructed to launch Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.

Reacting to the event, Mr. Tharoor wrote on X, questioning the rationale behind the choice and warned in opposition to mixing faith, nationality and sport. “Recalling my views on the topic, now that @bcci has deplorably pulled the plug on Mustafizur Rahman. And what if the Bangladeshi participant in query had been Litton Das or Soumya Sarkar? Who’re we punishing right here: a nation, a person, his faith? The place will this senseless politicising of sport lead us?” Mr. Tharoor stated.

Mr. Tharoor reiterated that holding a person sportsperson accountable for developments out of the country was unjustified.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday (January 2, 2026) stated cricket shouldn’t be linked to assaults on minorities in Bangladesh, reacting to criticism over the choice of a Bangladeshi participant by an IPL franchise.

Talking to reporters right here on the choice of Bangladesh cricketer Mustafizur Rahman by Kolkata Knight Riders on the IPL public sale, Mr. Tharoor stated sport shouldn’t be made to bear the burden of political points.

“I truthfully don’t assume cricket ought to be made to hold the burden of assaults on minorities in Bangladesh. My view is evident that we must always attempt to insulate some areas from others,” he stated.

Mr. Tharoor stated India has been partaking with Bangladesh and urging it to guard and take care of minorities, and that such messaging ought to proceed.

“However Mustafizur Rahman is a cricketer and has nothing to do with any of these items. He has not been personally accused of hate speech or assaults, or of condoning or defending such acts. He’s a sportsman, and mixing these two issues is solely not honest,” he stated.

He added that isolating neighbouring international locations by way of sporting boycotts wouldn’t serve any constructive function.

“If India turns into a rustic that isolates all its neighbours and says no person ought to play with them, it won’t do any good. We want a giant coronary heart and a giant thoughts on this matter,” Mr. Tharoor stated.

Stressing that the choice was purely a sporting one, he stated politics shouldn’t be allowed to affect such issues.

Priyank Kharge on launch of cricketer Mustafizur Rahman

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge echoed related sentiments and questioned the function of the BCCI, the ICC and the Union authorities within the controversy. Talking on the problem, Mr. Kharge stated the foundations governing participant participation ought to have been clearly framed on the outset. “What’s the level of questioning a franchise or its proprietor? The principles are set by the BCCI and are overseen by the ICC. Why is no person questioning the BCCI, the ICC or the Residence Minister?” he requested.

Mr. Kharge additionally accused the ruling institution of selectively invoking nationalism for revenue. “If the BCCI actually cares about individuals’s sentiments, why are IPL auctions held outdoors India? Why was IPL performed in Abu Dhabi throughout Covid? You don’t see the English Premier League or the NFL conducting auctions outdoors their international locations,” he stated.

Mr. Kharge alleged that nationalism was getting used conveniently whereas industrial pursuits have been prioritised.

(With inputs from ANI)