A fresh political storm has hit the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) high-profile signing of Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, which has put the franchise co-owner Shah Rukh Khan under immense pressure ahead of the 2026 season.
The Mustafizur Rahman Saga: The Signing That Ignited Political Controversy
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) snapped up Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman for a whopping ₹9.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. It was just a move to bolster their bowling attack, but the recent situation of Hindus in Bangladesh has been putting continuous pressure on KKR and SRK.
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While Mustafizur is a proven T20 asset, the cricketer’s signing is now overshadowed by geopolitical tensions due to rising anger over repeated reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The issue has now moved beyond social media anger and into open political demands.
Political Backlash and Calls for a Ban
Several political leaders have openly urged Shah Rukh Khan to remove the Bangladeshi pacer from the KKR squad. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam has requested the KKR co-owner to drop Mustafizur from the side, saying the presence of a Bangladeshi player in his team could make the Bollywood superstar a direct target of public anger.
Sanjay Nirupam was quoted as saying by ANI: “When the entire country is enraged and angry at Bangladesh, anyone in India who has even the slightest connection to Bangladeshis could become a target of that anger. If there is a Bangladeshi in Shah Rukh Khan’s team, before he becomes a major target, we request that Shah Rukh Khan remove the Bangladeshi from his team. This will be for his own good and will also protect India’s interests.”
The pressure intensified further when Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey called for a complete ban on Bangladeshi players in the IPL. He stated that foreign players from countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan should not be allowed to play on Indian soil, especially at a time when emotions are running high due to attacks on Hindu minorities across the border.
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Dubey stated, “Bangladeshi players shouldn’t be allowed to play on Indian soil in the IPL… Pakistani and Bangladeshi players should be prohibited. They harbor hatred towards us for the murder of our Hindu brothers and sisters… Shah Rukh Khan should immediately remove that Bangladeshi cricketer from his team… If he doesn’t do this even after all this uproar, it will prove that, while he lives in this country and earns money here, he doesn’t understand this nation’s sentiments.”
Shah Rukh Khan’s History with Political Controversy
In 2012, the Bollywood icon was banned from entering Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium for five years after an argument with security staff. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) later reduced the ban, and it was lifted in 2015. A few years later, the actor revealed that he got angry because his children were present and were not being handled properly, and a security guard used an offensive word directed at his religion, which made him lose his temper.
And then in 2015, SRK mentioned “growing intolerance” in India, which led to him being labelled “anti-national,” with many political leaders suggesting he “go to Pakistan.” Given these past incidents, the KKR-Rahman deal is being linked to alleged anti-India sentiments and violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
