AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has criticized India’s handling of the controversy surrounding Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman, highlighting what he called a double standard in India’s approach to sports and politics.
Last week, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, to release Rahman from the team ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The decision came amid protests in Bangladesh over the treatment of Hindus in the country. Several political leaders, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, had previously expressed concerns about mixing sports with politics.
Owaisi questioned why Rahman was being sent back, drawing a comparison with former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in India after fleeing political unrest in her country. “After the Pahalgam attack, we played with Pakistan in the Asia Cup. A Bangladeshi woman is living in India, so why not send her back too?” Owaisi remarked, pointing to the need for India to consider regional stability amid China and Pakistan’s growing influence in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh authorities have been requesting Hasina’s return, but she and her family have resisted, calling any trial a sham under a politically hostile administration. Meanwhile, the BCCI’s decision allows KKR to find a replacement for Rahman if necessary, signaling a willingness to navigate cricket and politics carefully.
The row has sparked broader debates over India’s foreign policy and sporting engagements, with critics arguing that sports should remain separate from political controversies, while others emphasize the importance of ethical and regional considerations.
As the IPL 2026 season approaches, the controversy continues to highlight the complex intersection of sports, politics, and diplomacy in South Asia.
