Shah Rukh Khan, co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), is at the center of a political controversy after the IPL franchise signed Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for the 2026 season for ₹9.20 crore. The move has drawn sharp criticism from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and some Hindu religious figures, who have labelled Khan a “traitor” and questioned his patriotism.
BJP leader Sangeet Singh Som, a former MLA from Uttar Pradesh, criticised Khan at a public event, claiming that supporting a player from Bangladesh, where he alleged atrocities against Hindus have occurred, was unacceptable. He stated that Mustafizur Rahman “would not be allowed to play in India at any cost” and added that Khan “has no right to live in this country” if he continues backing decisions that, in his view, support nations “working against India.”
Religious leaders also weighed in. Hindu spiritual figures, including Jagadguru Swami Rambhadracharya and Devkinandan Thakur, questioned Khan’s decision to sign a Bangladeshi player, with some calling for Mustafizur to be dropped from the team.
On the other hand, opposition leaders and others defended the move. Congress MP Manickam Tagore condemned the “traitor” label, describing it as an attack on India’s pluralism and emphasising that nationalism cannot be defined through hate. He called for sports decisions, including cricket team selections, to remain free from political rhetoric.
Spiritual leader Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri offered a more balanced perspective, noting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would decide on Mustafizur’s participation if needed, while also encouraging players to speak up on issues affecting their compatriots.
The row highlights how decisions in sports can quickly become entwined with politics, national identity, and social discourse in India, sparking debates that go beyond the cricket field.
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