Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has strongly criticised the controversial decision to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL), calling it an unfair move that mixes sports with diplomacy.
Questioning the Logic Behind the Move
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday in New Delhi, Abdullah expressed bewilderment at the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) instruction to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise. The directive led to the release of the bowler amid heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh.
"What is the fault of that poor player?" Abdullah asked pointedly. He emphasised that while India's relations with Pakistan are strained, the same cannot be said for Bangladesh. "Our relations with the people of Bangladesh were good. They are still good," he stated, questioning the rationale behind targeting an individual sportsperson for broader political issues.
Potential Fallout for the T20 World Cup
Abdullah warned that this action could have serious repercussions for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. He highlighted that the move has already sparked concerns in Bangladesh about travelling to India for the global tournament.
"The people of Bangladesh are saying that they will not come to India and play. They are saying their matches should be held somewhere else," Abdullah revealed, indicating a potential sporting boycott. He reiterated his stance that sports and politics should be handled as separate domains, urging governments to adopt more measured responses if they wish to register political protests.
An Unwanted Separation
Abdullah clarified that neither the player nor his franchise desired this outcome. "His team did not want to remove him. He did not want to go. Pressure came from above and they removed him," he explained. Mustafizur Rahman was the sole Bangladeshi player purchased at the IPL auction, with KKR securing him for a significant sum of Rs 9.20 crore.
The former Chief Minister concluded by underscoring that Bangladesh has not engaged in activities harmful to India, such as terrorism, and that the two nations share close ties. He framed the player's removal as a misguided step that could damage these cordial people-to-people relations without addressing the core diplomatic issues.
