Amid the strained India-Bangladesh relations, Mustafizur Rahman was released by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Saturday (January 3).

Mustafizur, who would have been the only Bangladeshi representative in the IPL 2026 season, was signed by KKR for Rs 9.2 crore in the mini-auction last month. However, as reports of atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh increased, there was growing demand of removing the left-arm quick from the league.

On Saturday morning, the BCCI confirmed that KKR had been instructed to release Mustafizur and the franchise obliged to the board’s diktat within a few hours.

Speaking to India Today, former India cricketer Madan Lal reacted to the development, claiming that the BCCI was arm-twisted into asking KKR to release the Bangladesh pacer from their roster ahead of the 2026 season.

Madan also sympathized with Mustafizur, insisting that the player was unfairly being caught in the crossfire.

"You know, I think the BCCI has taken this decision because nobody can challenge them. Not even Shah Rukh Khan, because they come under the BCCI. So the BCCI has taken the decision. But I don't know why there is so much politics entering sports. I have no idea where cricket is heading, where sport is heading," Madan said.

"The things that happened in Bangladesh are very, very sad. But you see, a lot of these associations take the players into the firing line. That is the problem. They use the players. It's a very sad thing that is going on. Politics should not be involved in sport," he added.

Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia addressed the situation while speaking to news agency PTI. “The BCCI has asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from its squad. They can ask for a replacement if needed, and upon request, the BCCI will allow a replacement player,” Saikia said.

Explaining the reason behind the decision, the BCCI secretary said, “Because of recent developments all across.”

Madan Lal mince no words as he suggested that there was external pressure on the cricket board. "Yes, definitely. Because of what is going on in Bangladesh, that is why they must have taken this decision. I am talking straight here. There must have been pressure from the high command. That is why this decision was taken," he said.

The 1983 World Cup winner also questioned why figures associated with KKR were being dragged into the conversation. "What is Shah Rukh Khan's fault? This is a committee that takes decisions. When they sit in the auction, they are the people who pick the players and everything," he remarked.

In the end, Madan Lal acknowledged the pull of national sentiment in the cricket crazy country. "National sentiment is always going to be there because cricket is loved by millions. That is the reason all this is happening. The nation always comes first, and that is not wrong. That is why such hard decisions are taken," he said.