Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan has expressed his support for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the directive to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Wassan described the decision as correct and defended actor Shah Rukh Khan against unfair criticism in the controversy.
Wassan emphasized the need for patience in assessing such matters, stating that the recent uproar was premature and required time for proper judgment. He criticized the targeting of Shah Rukh Khan, highlighting that multiple franchises had bid for Mustafizur during the IPL mini-auction last December.
The former India pacer pointed out that at the time of the auction, there was no directive from the BCCI against picking Mustafizur, and the situation with Bangladesh had not escalated to its current level. Wassan mentioned that the public sentiment has now aligned with the board’s decision, suggesting that India should refrain from supporting Bangladesh cricket amid the ongoing adversities.
Wassan urged stakeholders to handle the situation with maturity, noting that there is still time before the IPL season commences. The BCCI had instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, a directive that the franchise promptly complied with.
