JDU leader urges rethink on BCCI's Mustafizur decision: 'Bangladesh appointed Hindu as captain'

Senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi on Tuesday cautioned against mixing sports and politics. (File: PTI)

• KC Tyagi urges India to rethink BCCI's order releasing Mustafizur from KKR
• Tyagi: Sports shouldn't mix with politics amid India-Bangladesh tensions
• KKR's priciest Bangladeshi Mustafizur released before IPL 2026 season.

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Senior Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi on Tuesday said India should reconsider the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directive asking Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman to be released from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

The BCCI's instruction to KKR came amid heightened tensions between India and Bangladesh following violent attacks on minority Hindus in the neighbouring country. The directive allowed KKR to let go of Mustafizur Rahman and seek a replacement under IPL regulations.

Tyagi, a senior leader considered close to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, said sports should not be overtly mixed with politics, even as regional tensions simmer.

"Sports has nothing to do with politics. But the situation in the Indian subcontinent, especially with Pakistan and Bangladesh, is tense… This impacts the spirit of the game," Tyagi told reporters.

Tyagi, whose JD(U) commands a significant Muslim support base despite its alliance with the BJP, said the BCCI decision may have been influenced by public sentiments following incidents in Bangladesh but cautioned against combining cricket with geopolitical tensions.

He further pointed to Bangladesh's appointment of Litton Das, a Hindu, as the captain of the Bangladesh national cricket team, suggesting it sends a significant message about inclusivity in sport.

"When Bangladesh has appointed a minority cricketer, a Hindu, as captain of its team, this should make us rethink," Tyagi said, describing the move as a "strong message".

The Mustafizur controversy has also triggered broader political reactions in India. Earlier, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi also argued that cricket should not be dragged into political disputes and that national sporting matters should remain separate from diplomatic tensions.

The decision to release Mustafizur, who was one of the most expensive Bangladeshi players in the IPL auction, follows violent incidents in Bangladesh that sparked protests in India and strained relations between the two neighbours.

Mustafizur, 30, was bought by KKR at the 2026 IPL auction for Rs 9.2 crore, also making him the costliest Bangladesh player in IPL history. Under BCCI rules, franchises can replace players who are released before the season starts.