Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has stepped into the controversy surrounding Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) acquisition of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman at the recent IPL auction, arguing that cricket should be kept separate from political tensions. His comments come amid criticism from certain quarters linking the sporting decision to attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh.
Tharoor's Appeal to Insulate Sports from Politics
Speaking to reporters, Tharoor emphasized that the sport must not be forced to "bear the burden for attacks on minorities in Bangladesh." He advocated for insulating certain domains from broader geopolitical issues. "We should try to insulate some areas from others," Tharoor stated, adding that diplomatic outreach to protect minorities should continue independently.
He specifically defended Mustafizur Rahman, stating the cricketer has no connection to the alleged hate crimes. "Mustafizur Rahman is a cricketer and has nothing to do with any of these things. He has not been personally accused of any hate speech or condoning or defending any attacks. Mixing these two things is simply not fair," Tharoor asserted.
Warning Against Isolating Neighbours
Tharoor further cautioned against a policy of isolating neighbouring countries, highlighting India's geographical and strategic reality with Bangladesh. "If we become a country that isolates all of our neighbours, and say nobody is playing with any of them, how does it do any good? It is purely a sporting decision, and we should not let politics come into this," he reasoned.
He pointed out, "We surround Bangladesh on three sides. We cannot isolate them. We have to play with them." His remarks underscore a stance favouring engagement over exclusion in international sports.
Political Back-and-Forth Over the Signing
The debate was ignited after KKR secured Mustafizur Rahman in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, where they also made marquee signings like Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana. The move drew criticism from some Hindu religious leaders and BJP supporters, who labelled it inappropriate given recent events in Bangladesh.
Congress leader and Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the BJP's stance in a post on X. He pointed out that overseas players participate under BCCI and IPL regulations. "If an overseas player is in IPL, it is because BCCI or the IPL rules allow him," Kharge wrote.
He accused the BJP of selective nationalism, citing instances like India playing cricket with Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack and the IPL shifting matches to Islamic nations during COVID-19. "For BJP, 'nationalism' appears only when it suits their politics," Kharge alleged.
Context: Attacks on Minorities in Bangladesh
The political commentary references a series of tragic incidents in Bangladesh. On December 18, a 25-year-old Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched and his body set on fire in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy. A week later, on December 24, another Hindu man, Amrit Mondal, was lynched in Rajbari's Pangsha upazila over alleged extortion.
Most recently, on Wednesday night, a 50-year-old Hindu businessman, Khokon Chandra Das, was brutally attacked, hacked, and set on fire in Shariatpur district, as reported by the Bengali daily Prothom Alo.
The core argument from Tharoor and other Congress leaders is that while these attacks are grave and require sustained diplomatic pressure, targeting an individual sportsperson who plays by the rules is neither fair nor constructive. The episode highlights the perennial challenge of keeping the spirit of sports distinct from complex international relations.
