Shah Rukh Khan in eye of storm after KKR signs Bangladeshi player at IPL auction: 'Won’t allow this at any cost'

Shah Rukh Khan's IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, bought Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman at the recent players’ auction.

• KKR criticized for signing Mustafizur Rahman for Rs 9.2 crore
• Shiv Sena (UBT) and others seek Rahman's removal over national security concerns
• Waris Pathan criticizes selective outrage in sports, condemns violence.

Did our AI summary help?

A controversy has broken out after IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) picked Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for Rs 9.2 crore at the IPL auction.

KKR is co-owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan.

After BJP leader Sangeet Som criticised Khan for the move, Shiv Sena (UBT) warned of protests if the Bangladeshi player is allowed to play.

Party spokesperson Anand Dubey told News18 that the issue went beyond sports.

“If Shah Rukh Khan removes him from his team, we will all respect him, honour him, and give him due recognition. But if Shah Rukh Khan plays him and earns money, that money will be used to nurture terrorists there and conspire against our country. We will not allow this to happen at any cost," Dubey said.

He further claimed, “Bangladesh and Pakistan are both our enemies. We will not remain calm without completely boycotting them."

Dubey called both Pakistan and Bangladesh the enemies of India.

The first public criticism came from Hindu spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur. He questioned KKR’s decision in the backdrop of reported violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. Speaking to ANI, Thakur said the KKR management should remove the Bangladeshi player. He demanded that the money paid to the cricketer be given to families of Hindu victims as an apology.

Questioning outrage

On the other hand, AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan questioned the selective outrage around sports while condemning violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

“I condemn the atrocities being committed against the Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. Violence should not be done. When it comes to cricket, how does it matter who supports what? Some time ago, the Indian government allowed the India-Pakistan match. We had objected to it because Pakistan has been the biggest propagator of terrorism,” he told News18.

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge also questioned why IPL franchises were being targeted instead of regulators.

“If a player is playing the IPL, it is because BCCI and IPL rules allow it," Kharge said, asking why the BJP was not questioning the BCCI or ICC if it truly opposed Bangladeshi participation.

West Bengal Minister Ujjal Biswas said sports should not be politicised. “Sports and politics are two separate issues, and if the player has already been selected, then there is nothing more that can be done," he told News18.

However, Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya termed Khan and his actions "treacherous".

“He is not a hero. Shah Rukh Khan does not have a character. His actions have been those of a traitor," Rambhadracharya said.