Backlash mounts on Shah Rukh Khan as BCCI asks KKR to drop Bangladeshi pacer
Kolkata: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner Shah Rukh Khan has come under intense criticism after the franchise included Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
According to Kashmir Media Service, politicians and religious figures in India publicly targeted the actor over the signing.
Amid the backlash, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed KKR to release Mustafizur from their squad for IPL 2026, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said.
Indian media reported that KKR picked Mustafizur at an auction held in December for Indian rupees 92 million, a move that drew criticism.
Among the reactions cited, Hindu spiritual leader Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya labelled Shah Rukh Khan a “traitor” for hiring the Bangladeshi player, while another religious figure, Devkinandan Thakur, also criticised the move and demanded the signing be revoked.
Political criticism was also reported. Shiv Sena (UBT) was quoted as calling Bangladeshis “enemies” and urging KKR to drop such players and choose Indian cricketers.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam criticised the signing and said the Indian government needed to intervene, adding that the actor should remove the player to avoid being targeted. KMS—15A
