Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for its directive to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise to drop Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Tharoor labelled the move an "absolutely appalling decision" that unnecessarily politicises sport.
Unnecessary Politicisation of a Sporting Decision
Tharoor, who chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, argued that the decision makes no cricketing sense. He pointed out that franchises were invited to select players from a pool pre-registered and approved by the BCCI itself. "If a fellow was in the pool, why is KKR to blame for selecting somebody from that pool?" Tharoor questioned in an interview with The Indian Express.
He emphasised that objecting to the selection of a player whom the BCCI itself listed as eligible is illogical. The former Union Minister reiterated that holding an individual sportsperson accountable for geopolitical developments is unjust. "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," Tharoor stated.
Context of India-Bangladesh Diplomatic Strains
Tharoor's remarks come amid heightened tensions between India and Bangladesh following reports of violence against the Hindu minority in the neighbouring country. These incidents have inflamed public opinion in India. Tharoor acknowledged the "inflamed passions on the streets in Bangladesh" but stressed that the Indian government has been attempting diplomatic persuasion to ensure calm ahead of Bangladesh's elections next month.
He also revealed that efforts have been made to engage with key Bangladeshi political figures, including Tariq Rahman, chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who is seen by many as a potential future leader.
Bangladesh is Not Pakistan, Says Tharoor
When asked if the current friction could lead to a complete cessation of bilateral cricket, similar to the situation with Pakistan, Tharoor was unequivocal. "No, Bangladesh is not Pakistan. Bangladesh has not been dispatching terrorists across the border. It’s not a comparable situation at all," he asserted.
He elaborated that India's relationship with Bangladesh is on a completely different footing than its ties with Pakistan. The stage of diplomacy and negotiations is distinct, and a simple equation between the two cannot be made. Tharoor cautioned against isolating neighbouring countries, warning that such actions would not serve India's long-term strategic interests.
In his concluding arguments, Tharoor warned against mixing religion, nationality, and sport. He asserted that cricket should not become a victim of the delicate diplomatic and political relationship between the two nations, and must be kept separate from political disputes.
