Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and his team Kolkata Knight Riders are caught in political storm ahead of the new Indian Premier League season.
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With IPL 2026 season set for March start, teams have been fine-tuning their combinations. However, KKR and co-owner Shah Rukh Khan has come under scathing attacks from Indian political parties for signing Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman for Rs. 9.2 crore during the IPL auction.
Why are Shah Rukh Khan, KKR caught in a political storm?
Growing political and religious tensions between India and Bangladesh are the root cause of the controversy surrounding Rahman's inclusion in KKR.
On Friday, Indian political party Shiv Sena turned on the volume, saying they will seek the central government's intervention on keeping players from Bangladesh out of the popular cricket league.
“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,” Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey said in a statement.
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KKR and Shah Rukh Khan had faced a backlash right after the auction as well.
Sardhana MLA Sangeet Singh Som, of the ruling BJP party, had said during a public meet in Meerut: “On one hand, Hindus are being killed in Bangladesh, and on the other hand, cricketers are being bought in the IPL auction. Shah Rukh Khan bought Rahman by spending Rs 9 crore."
Labeling Shah Rukh Khan a 'traitor', Som also went on to threaten Rahman and said that he will not be allowed to leave the airport.
Will Bangladesh players continue in IPL?
The BCCI has asked KKR to release Rahman for upcoming IPL season.
“Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchisee KKR to release one of their player Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh from their squad and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told news agency ANI.
Rahman is the only Bangladeshi player in the upcoming edition of IPL, with Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana, Shoriful Islam, Rakibul Hasan and Shakib Al-Hasan going unsold.
Pakistani players have not been part of the IPL since 2009.
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