Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the Indian Premier League (IPL) has sparked widespread discussion in recent days. The issue has also triggered a series of off-field developments, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) even holding talks with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the possibility of relocating their upcoming ICC T20 World Cup matches from India.

Speaking to The Daily Star’s sports reporter Ekush Tapader, the former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director warned that politics and unclear processes are widening the gap between Bangladesh and India, urging cricket authorities to act decisively.

The development overshadowed a scheduled rest day in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20.

How much will Bangladesh ace pacer Mustafizur Rahman earn after being removed from the Indian Premier League?

Indian politician and current Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor called out the BCCI for ‘deplorably’ forcing Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad for IPL 2026, doubling down on his belief that politics should not be dragged into sports.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) heeded to the mounting pressure from politicians and religious groups in the country and instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad.

"It's best to retire when fans ask: 'Why? You still have some more in you'," Russell said.

Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal returned figures of 4-28 as Punjab Kings defended IPL's lowest ever total of 111 to down holders Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs in a thriller on Tuesday.

India batter Venkatesh Iyer smashed 60 off 29 balls to fire holders Kolkata Knight Riders to a 80-run hammering of Sunrisers Hyderabad in a comeback IPL win on Thursday.

"How can I help India win the World Cup - I think it's not me that will help India win the World Cup, it is 140 crore Indians that will help India win the World Cup," Gambhir said.

Dinesh Karthik announced his retirement from all cricket on social media, bringing an end to a professional career that began in the early 2000s.

Starc's stunning return to form in the IPL burnishes his record in big matches and comes days before the T20 World Cup starts in the United States and the Caribbean.

"My mom is watching from home," said Afghanistan's Gurbaz, who left the tournament midway through to be with his ailing mother back home and returned for the play-offs.

Two-time champions Kolkata bowled out Hyderabad for 159 as Starc returned figures of 3-34 in the first play-off -- qualifier 1 -- at the world's biggest cricket stadium.

The two highest-priced players in the IPL -- Australia teammates Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc -- will go head-to-head Tuesday for a place in the final as the cash-rich Twenty20 league enters the playoffs.

Two-time champions Kolkata posted 157-7 as Venkatesh Iyer top-scored with 42 off 21 balls after being invited to bat first at their home Eden Gardens in a 16-overs-a-side match

The rule, which was introduced to the tournament last season, allows teams to bring in one substitute at any time for a player in the starting 11.

“Cricket is turning into baseball, isn’t it? It was absolutely incredible,” Curran said at the post-match presentation.

Narine has been one of the surprise packets of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons and the 35-year-old showed his class with a superb century for the Kolkata Knight Riders in their loss to the Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens on Tuesday.

Phil Salt's rapid 89 and three wickets for Mitchell Starc helped Kolkata Knight Riders race to a crushing eight-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday.