IPL chairman terms Mustafizur omission ‘unfortunate’

Arun Dhumal, chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL), termed the highly controversial omission of Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as “unfortunate.”

The left-arm seamer could not take part in the tournament after he was removed from the KKR squad under the directive of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Speaking to the Financial Times, Dhumal did not divulge too deep into the matter, but acknowledged the entire episode was unfortunate.

“I would only say it was unfortunate. Beyond that, I do not have much knowledge,” he was quoted in the interview.

When asked about the recurring influence of politics in cricket in India in reference to Mustafizur’s removal and the fact that Pakistani players have not featured in the IPL since 2009, -- Dhumal expressed hope for a more stable future.

“It is unfortunate, I would say, the way things unfold at times. I do not think the government has any interest or any role to play in running cricket day to day. The government is supportive of cricket at large. But, yes, sometimes events happen around us and decisions follow.

“I am sure good sense will prevail and that this will not be the case going forward,” he said.

Addressing whether politics will continue to intrude into cricket, Dhumal emphasised that administrators must prioritise the game’s broader interests.

“Ultimately, you have to keep sport separate from politics, because politics is dynamic. Something can happen at one point in time and, six months down the line, it is a different world altogether. There are elections, there are pressures, there are events. As administrators, we have to keep the larger picture and the interest of cricket in mind, rather than getting into politics.

“At the same time, we are part of the wider set-up. If the government decides something, that is the end of it. They will have a broader and more holistic view than any sports administrator. For us, the focus has to be the interest of the game,” he added.

In December last year, Mustafizur was signed by KKR for INR 9.20 crore, making him the most expensive Bangladeshi player in IPL history.

However, seemingly under the pressure of right wing groups, BCCI instructed KKR to release him from their squad.

His exclusion spiraled into a bigger issue when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) demanded for the relocation of their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India over security concerns.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected the request, and Bangladesh were subsequently replaced by Scotland in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Mustafizur joined the Pakistan Super League (PSL), being signed by Lahore Qalandars for PKR 6.44 crore.

In PSL 2026, he has taken two wickets in two matches so far at an impressive economy rate of 4.87.