The inclusion of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman in the Kolkata Knight Riders IPL franchise, co-owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, has sparked a political controversy. BJP leader Sangeet Som labeled Khan a “traitor” for investing in players from Bangladesh, a country allegedly working against India. The move to sign Rahman for ₹9.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction was praised by cricket analysts but led to nationalistic backlash due to strained India-Bangladesh relations. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam urged Khan to remove Rahman from the team to protect India’s interests amidst growing tensions. However, Congress MP Manickam Tagore defended Khan, stating that calling him a traitor was an attack on India’s pluralism. Meanwhile, the All India Imam Association President called for action against those criticizing Khan, emphasizing that sports and films have no borders. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi also supported Khan, stating that picking a Bangladeshi player for the IPL was not an act of betrayal, given Indian Muslims’ solidarity with minorities in Bangladesh.
Follow Franchise Cricket for more IPL news.
