'Good sense will prevail': IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal on Mustafiz's 'unfortunate' ouster from KKR

Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Arun Dhumal finally addressed the removal of Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in early January.

The move was taken following a directive from the BCCI amid rising tensions between India and Bangladesh, which escalated after the killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh.

Mustafizur was the only Bangladesh player picked at the auction last December. He had been signed by the former champions for ₹9.5 crore, but his release in January triggered widespread backlash against KKR and co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.

"I would only say it was unfortunate. Beyond that, I do not have much knowledge," Dhumal told the Financial Times.

The IPL chief also stressed that the Indian government does not interfere in the day-to-day functioning of cricket, maintaining only a broader, supportive role in the sport.

"It is unfortunate, I would say, the way things unfold at times. I do not think the government has any interest or any role to play in running cricket day to day. The government is supportive of cricket at large," he said. "But, yes, sometimes events happen around us and decisions follow. I am sure good sense will prevail and that this will not be the case going forward."

Earlier in January, KKR had issued a statement confirming that the player's release was in accordance with instructions received from the BCCI.

However, the decision did not go down well in Bangladesh. The then government reportedly banned the broadcast of the IPL in the country and barred the national team from travelling to India for the T20 World Cup.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) later approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their matches to Sri Lanka, but the request was denied.

With both sides holding firm, the ICC eventually replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the World Cup line-up.