The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly stated it hasn't heard anything about the controversy surrounding Bangladeshi players' participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

After being purchased by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at a mini auction last month for INR 9.20 crore, Mustafizur Rahman became the costliest Bangladeshi player ever.

Following reports of violent incidents involving religious minorities in Bangladesh, Rahman's signing has generated controversy, prompting some to doubt his participation in the IPL 2026.

According to BCCI sources cited by IANS, there has not yet been a government directive prohibiting Bangladeshi players from competing in the league, despite recent talks regarding Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman's acquisition by KKR at last month's IPL auction.

“Let’s not get into this. It is not in our hands. We have not received any communication from the government directing us to prevent Bangladesh players from participating in the IPL… Can’t comment much as of now,” a BCCI official told IANS.

Mustafizur Rahman has a decent record in IPL, with 65 wickets in 60 IPL games. He has played for the Mumbai Indians (2018), the Rajasthan Royals (2021), the Delhi Capitals (2022–23), and the Chennai Super Kings (2024) in the Indian Premier League. He played for Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2025 as an injury replacement.

Meanwhile, there is pressure being built on Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan, who co-owns the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise in IPL, to remove Mustafizur Rahman from the squad for IPL 2026.

To keep the Bollywood star from becoming a major target, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam has asked Shah Rukh Khan to remove the Bangladeshi player from the KKR squad. He added that India's interests would be protected by this measure.

“When the entire country is enraged and angry at Bangladesh, anyone in India who has even the slightest connection to Bangladeshis could become a target of that anger. If there is a Bangladeshi in Shah Rukh Khan’s team, before he becomes a major target, we request that Shah Rukh Khan remove the Bangladeshi from his team. This will be for his own good and will also protect India’s interests," Sanjay Nirupam told ANI.

Furthermore, Anand Dubey, a spokesman for the Shiv Sena (UBT), recently told ANI that Bangladeshi players ought to be prohibited from playing in the IPL in India. He went on to say that if Shah Rukh Khan, the owner of KKR, does not fire Mustafizur, it would be a sign that he does not comprehend the feelings of the country.

“Bangladeshi players shouldn’t be allowed to play on Indian soil in the IPL… Pakistani and Bangladeshi players should be prohibited. They harbor hatred towards us for the murder of our Hindu brothers and sisters… Shah Rukh Khan should immediately remove that Bangladeshi cricketer from his team… If he doesn’t do this even after all this uproar, it will prove that, while he lives in this country and earns money here, he doesn’t understand this nation’s sentiments," he said.

Spiritual guru Devkinandan Thakur criticized KKR and Shah Rukh Khan for signing Mustafizur Rahman. He stated that Hindus and followers of Sanatan Dharma were hurt by the inclusion of the Bangladeshi player, given reports of atrocities committed by his countrymen on Hindus in Bangladesh.