By Harsh
January 04, 2026
Kolkata Knight Riders release Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026 squad following BCCI directive amid concerns over religious minority issues in Bangladesh.
Kolkata Knight Riders released Mustafizur Rahman on January 3 after buying him for ₹9.20 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction—without a single match played.
Kolkata Knight Riders said the decision followed internal consultations and Indian Premier League regulations, confirming the franchise can sign a replacement player.
Mustafizur Rahman expressed disappointment after being dropped, saying “What else can you do if you are dropped?”, reacting to the sudden decision.
Mustafizur Rahman was just 12 IPL matches away from overtaking Shakib Al Hasan as Bangladesh’s most capped player in IPL history before the setback.
Mustafizur Rahman starred with 15 wickets in eight matches in the ILT20 2025–26 and carried the momentum into the Bangladesh Premier League with Rangpur Riders.