‘Politics should not enter sports’: Ex-India cricketer slams BCCI over Mustafizur’s IPL release

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) heeded to the mounting pressure from politicians and religious groups in the country and instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad.

Former India all-rounder Madan Lal has slammed the BCCI for this call and lamented the growing influence of politics in sports.

"You know, I think the BCCI has taken this decision because nobody can challenge them," Lal told India Today. "I don't know why there is so much politics entering sport. I have no idea where cricket is heading, where sport is heading."

Lal said that players should not be affected by political pressures. "A lot of these associations take the players into the firing line. That is the problem. They use the players," he said. "Politics should not be involved in sport."

The 30-year-old Mustafizur was bought by KKR for INR 9.20 crore in the IPL mini-auction -- making him the most expensive Bangladeshi player in the league's history.

As per reports from Indian media, several politicians of the ruling party BJP and religious leaders in the country had been criticising KKR, especially its owner Bollywood actor Shak Rukh Khan, for roping in Mustafizur at the auction over concerns for the safety of minorities in Bangladesh.

Just two days ago, BJP politician Sangeet Som had labelled KKR owner Shah Rukh "a traitor" for buying Mustafizur and religious leader Devkinandan Thakur slammed the Bollywood star for the Bangladeshi pacer's inclusion.