Fizz left in the cold as Kolkata cut cord

Sylhet wore a subdued look yesterday as Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the chill of the ongoing winter cold wave reflecting the mood.

The development overshadowed a scheduled rest day in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20. Most teams relaxed at hotels or explored the city, while bottom-placed Noakhali Express trained at Sylhet Outer Stadium after returning from Dhaka the previous night.

Earlier in the day, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) inaugurated its Sylhet Regional Office at a city hotel, part of its decentralisation and grassroots development efforts, with little indication at the time of the storm that would follow.

The mood changed sharply when it emerged that KKR had released Mustafizur following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Indian media reported the franchise had faced pressure from right-wing political and religious groups over concerns regarding minority safety in Bangladesh.

Journalists waited for hours for an official response before BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul confirmed the board had convened an emergency online meeting later in the night to assess the situation and determine its stance. BCB media committee chairman Amzad Hossain said that player dignity, safety and security remain the board's top priorities.

The development has triggered wider debate, with calls for Bangladesh to request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move their T20 World Cup matches from India. Bangladesh, in Group C, are scheduled to face West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9) and England (February 14) at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, and Nepal (February 17) at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

"If anything happens, the damage will be ours alone," said former Bangladesh captain and Noakhali head coach Khaled Mahmud. "I think BCB and the Bangladesh government should formally request the ICC to shift the matches to another country."

Rangpur Riders assistant coach Mohammad Ashraful, whose team features Mustafizur in the BPL, voiced his disappointment. "This was the first time Mustafizur truly got what he deserved at the IPL auction," Ashraful said. "Cricket should remain cricket. I hope the governments and boards of both countries resolve the matter. Personally, I believe teams should tour every country, and the host nation must ensure security," he added.

Mustafizur has played for several IPL franchises over the last decade, breaking through with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016 and bagging the Emerging Player Award -- still the only overseas player to win the accolade in IPL history.

His BPL team Rangpur also showed support on social media, posting: "Opportunities may be taken away, but respect is earned on the field. We stand with 'The Fizz'."

Fizz's 9.2 crore rupee IPL payout remains uncertain, as he did not voluntarily withdraw and was removed under BCCI instructions -- a situation unprecedented in IPL history.

The episode comes amid strained Bangladesh-India cricket ties. The BCCI recently postponed India's men's tour of Bangladesh and did not host the women's team in December. Although the BCB has slated a bilateral series for September 2026, its prospects remain uncertain.

With the coming days expected to be crucial, the developments involving the BCCI and KKR may further test both cricketing and diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India.