Overview
- A senior BCCI official said there will be no ban on Bangladeshi players and indicated Mustafizur Rahman is expected to play, with the board continuing to monitor the diplomatic situation.
- The board is in touch with the MEA and the BCB, with officials suggesting a T20 World Cup visa could cover the IPL, though NOC decisions and visa-centre closures could still affect availability.
- Kolkata Knight Riders bought Mustafizur for Rs 9.2 crore at the December 16 auction, making him the most expensive Bangladeshi pick and the only Bangladesh player slated for IPL 2026.
- BJP MLA Sangeet Som and spiritual leader Devkinandan Thakur publicly attacked Shah Rukh Khan and KKR over the signing, demanding the player’s removal and warning of boycotts or preventing play.
- Religious figures in Ujjain have reportedly threatened to disrupt IPL matches by damaging pitches, and neither KKR nor Shah Rukh Khan has issued a public response.