Kolkata Knight Riders are now facing a tricky situation after the BCCI asked the franchise to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the IPL 2026 season. KKR had secured the left-arm seamer for Rs 9.20 crore in a tense bidding battle with Super Kings of Chennai and the capitals of Delhi. The key question now is whether the franchise will recoup that money to rebuild its team. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the release to PTI, adding that KKR can request a replacement player and the board will authorize it. “The BCCI has asked the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. They can request a replacement, if necessary, and on request, the BCCI will allow a replacement player,” he said.
KKR later released an official statement confirming this development. The franchise said that the BCCI and IPL, as the regulator of the tournament, had asked them to release Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the upcoming season. The statement added that the release was carried out following due process and consultations, strictly on the instructions of the BCCI. KKR also confirmed that the BCCI will allow the franchise to name a replacement player as per IPL regulations, with further details to be communicated in due course. The release comes amid heightened political sensitivity following reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh and increasing scrutiny of Bangladeshi players in IPL teams. Mustafizur’s IPL 2026 debut for KKR was expected to strengthen their bowling attack, making this sudden directive a significant disruption to their planning. In league terms, situations like this are typically treated as force majeure events, where the withdrawal is due to circumstances beyond the control of the player and the franchise. Historically, teams have been allowed to recover the full auction amount in such cases, and KKR is also expected to receive the entire Rs 9.20 crore. For the franchise, the reimbursement is crucial not only financially, but also to ensure that it can enter the replacement market without compromising its balance ahead of the new season.
