New Delhi, Jan. 3 -- Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Priyank Kharge have launched sharp criticism against the BJP and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were instructed to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the upcoming IPL 2026 season.

Reacting to the development, Tharoor wrote on X, questioning the rationale behind the decision and warned against mixing religion, nationality and sport. "Recalling my views on the subject, now that @bcci has deplorably pulled the plug on Mustafizur Rahman. And what if the Bangladeshi player in question had been Litton Das or Soumya Sarkar? Who are we punishing here: a nation, an individual, his religion? Where will this mind...