'No mistake of SRK': Maulana Sajid backs Shah Rukh amid Mustafizur Rahman row; says player was bought under BCCI rules
Times of India | 3 January 2026
KOLKATA: All India Imam Association (AIAA) president Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Saturday came out in support of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan amid criticism over the inclusion of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman in his IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Rashidi said the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) directive to release the Bangladesh cricketer from the Indian Premier League roster should have been issued before the auction.
"The decision to drop the Bangladeshi player should have been made before the auction, as they were aware of the situation in Bangladesh. This decision is set under the narrative of the Hindu-Muslim angle. There is no mistake of Shah Rukh Khan as he bought the player under BCCI rules and regulations, " he told ANI.
Maulana Sajid Rashidi’s remarks came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed Shah Rukh Khan co-owned IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to remove Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the squad for the 2026 season.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said on Saturday that the apex cricket body had asked KKR to drop the Bangladesh cricketer from its IPL 2026 roster “due to recent develoments”, adding that the franchise would be allowed to sign a replacement.
The inclusion of a Bangladesh player had triggered political backlash, particularly against the backdrop of recent attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, with differing views emerging over Mustafizur’s selection for the IPL 2026 season.
Mustafizur was picked by the Kolkata-based franchise for Rs 9.20 crore at the IPL auction held in December last year.
"Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh from their squad and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement," Devaijit Saikia told ANI.