New Delhi, Jan 3 (NationPress) Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan has extended his support to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding its decision to instruct Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur Rahman, the pace bowler from Bangladesh, from their roster for the Indian Premier League (IPL). He described this decision as appropriate and asserted that actor Shah Rukh Khan was unjustly criticized in the ensuing controversy.

In an interview with IANS, Wassan expressed that the backlash was hasty and appeared to be a knee-jerk reaction, emphasizing the need for patience in such situations before forming opinions.

“I believe that the decision made by the BCCI was entirely correct. The uproar we have seen in recent days was premature and escalated into a significant issue rather quickly. I think issues like this deserve time for proper evaluation,” Wassan shared with IANS.

The former fast bowler took issue with the public targeting of KKR's co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, noting that multiple franchises had shown interest in Mustafizur during the IPL mini-auction last December.

“To target Shah Rukh Khan was unfair as he was not the only one who bid on the player. Four other franchises were also in the race, and at that moment, there were no directives from BCCI against selecting him, nor had the situation in Bangladesh worsened to this extent,” he elaborated.

Wassan further remarked that public sentiment has since made the board's decision seem more reasonable, stating that India should hold off on supporting Bangladesh cricket as long as the circumstances remain unfavorable.

“The issue should not have escalated to this level without showing some restraint. Initially, it seemed like a hasty response. But now, given the public sentiment, it feels justified. Our support for Bangladesh cricket must remain on hold until the situation improves,” he mentioned.

He urged all involved parties to handle the matter with maturity, highlighting that there is still ample time before the IPL season kicks off.

The BCCI's directive led to KKR confirming the release of Mustafizur Rahman, which they executed after due process and consultations. The franchise stated, “Kolkata Knight Riders acknowledges that the BCCI or IPL, acting as the regulator of IPL, has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the forthcoming IPL season. This release was conducted following proper procedures, and the BCCI will provide KKR with a replacement player as per IPL regulations, with further details to follow soon.”

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