Senior Congress leader and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor, has launched a scathing critique of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its directive to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to drop Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Tharoor termed the move "absolutely appalling" and an "unnecessary politicisation of a sporting decision."
A Flawed Decision That Demeans Our Nation
In an exclusive interview, Tharoor questioned the very logic of the BCCI's action. He pointed out that franchises were invited to select players from a pool pre-registered and approved by the BCCI itself. "So if a fellow was in the pool, why is KKR to blame for selecting somebody from that pool?" he asked, highlighting the inconsistency in the board's stance.
The decision is seen against the backdrop of strained ties between India and Bangladesh following reports of violence against the Hindu minority in the neighbouring country. While acknowledging the sensitivity of the diplomatic situation, Tharoor argued that making cricket a target sends the wrong message. "We are attempting to promote normalcy," he stated, referring to India's diplomatic efforts ahead of Bangladesh's elections next month.
Cricket Should Not Bear the Brunt of Social Media Outrage
Tharoor raised a strong moral objection, questioning why sports, and cricket in particular, must singularly shoulder the burden of public and online outrage. "Why is it that sports and cricket alone have to bear the burden of social media outrage?" he queried. He emphasized that Mustafizur Rahman is an individual sportsperson who has never condoned hate speech or made anti-India remarks.
"Who are we victimising here?" Tharoor asked, warning that such actions could project India as an intolerant nation. He posed a hypothetical scenario involving Bangladeshi Hindu cricketers like Litton Das or Soumya Sarkar, questioning if they would face similar exclusion. "Are we such an intolerant country that we're against Muslim Bangladeshis and not against Hindu Bangladeshis?" This line of questioning, he said, reveals that the decision was a reflexive one, not properly thought through.
Bangladesh is Not Pakistan, Says Tharoor
Dismissing comparisons with Pakistan, Tharoor drew a clear distinction between the two neighbours. "Bangladesh is not Pakistan. Bangladesh has not been dispatching terrorists across the border. It's not a comparable situation at all," he asserted. He clarified that the nature of diplomacy and the stage of negotiations with Bangladesh are entirely different, and equating the two would be a mistake.
Tharoor also expressed concern over the broader implications, especially with the T20 World Cup scheduled in India in February, where Bangladesh is set to play four matches. "Now what's going to happen? Are they going to be banned from playing? Is the entire World Cup schedule going to be put for a toss?" he wondered, calling the BCCI's move "incredibly foolish" for its potential to disrupt international cricket.
On being asked about the reported postponement of India's tour of Bangladesh, Tharoor said he did not understand the rationale and demanded an explanation from the decision-makers. The interview, conducted on January 5, 2026, also touched upon global geopolitics, where Tharoor commented on the US intervention in Venezuela, stating that the old world order is increasingly resembling a "new world disorder."
