Congress MP from Trivandrum Shashi Tharoor. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Priyank Kharge have launched sharp criticism against the BJP and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were instructed to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Tharoor wrote on X, questioning the rationale behind the decision and warned against mixing religion, nationality and sport. “Recalling my views on the subject, now that @bcci has deplorably pulled the plug on Mustafizur Rahman. And what if the Bangladeshi player in question had been Litton Das or Soumya Sarkar? Who are we punishing here: a nation, an individual, his religion? Where will this mindless politicising of sport lead us?” Mr. Tharoor said.
Mr. Tharoor reiterated that holding an individual sportsperson accountable for developments in another country was unjustified.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday (January 2, 2026) said cricket should not be linked to attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, reacting to criticism over the selection of a Bangladeshi player by an IPL franchise.
Speaking to reporters here on the selection of Bangladesh cricketer Mustafizur Rahman by Kolkata Knight Riders at the IPL auction, Mr. Tharoor said sport should not be made to bear the burden of political issues.
“I honestly don’t think cricket should be made to carry the burden of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. My view is clear that we should try to insulate some areas from others,” he said.
Mr. Tharoor said India has been engaging with Bangladesh and urging it to protect and look after minorities, and that such messaging should continue.
“But Mustafizur Rahman is a cricketer and has nothing to do with any of these things. He has not been personally accused of hate speech or attacks, or of condoning or defending such acts. He is a sportsman, and mixing these two things is simply not fair,” he said.
He added that isolating neighbouring countries through sporting boycotts would not serve any constructive purpose.
“If India becomes a country that isolates all its neighbours and says nobody should play with them, it will not do any good. We need a big heart and a big mind in this matter,” Mr. Tharoor said.
Stressing that the decision was purely a sporting one, he said politics should not be allowed to influence such matters.
Priyank Kharge on release cricketer Mustafizur Rahman
Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge echoed similar sentiments and questioned the role of the BCCI, the ICC and the Union government in the controversy. Speaking on the issue, Mr. Kharge said the rules governing player participation should have been clearly framed at the outset. “What is the point of questioning a franchise or its owner? The rules are set by the BCCI and are overseen by the ICC. Why is nobody questioning the BCCI, the ICC or the Home Minister?” he asked.
Mr. Kharge also accused the ruling establishment of selectively invoking nationalism for profit. “If the BCCI really cares about people’s sentiments, why are IPL auctions held outside India? Why was IPL played in Abu Dhabi during Covid? You don’t see the English Premier League or the NFL conducting auctions outside their countries,” he said.
Mr. Kharge alleged that nationalism was being used conveniently while commercial interests were prioritised.
(With inputs from ANI)
Published – January 03, 2026 03:10 pm IST
