Cricket shouldn’t carry burden of minority attacks in Bangladesh: Tharoor on Mustafizur’s IPL pick

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday said cricket should not be entangled with political or communal issues, responding to criticism over the selection of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman by Kolkata Knight Riders at the IPL auction.

Speaking to reporters, Tharoor argued that sport must be kept separate from broader political developments, including concerns over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

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“I honestly don't think cricket should be made to carry the burden of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. My view is clear that we should try to insulate some areas from others,” he said.

Tharoor noted that India has consistently engaged with Bangladesh on the issue of minority protection and should continue to do so through diplomatic channels.

“But Mustafizur Rahman is a cricketer and has nothing to do with any of these things. He has not been personally accused of hate speech or attacks, or of condoning or defending such acts. He is a sportsman, and mixing these two things is simply not fair,” he said.

He cautioned against the idea of sporting boycotts, saying isolating neighbouring countries would not be constructive.

“If India becomes a country that isolates all its neighbours and says nobody should play with them, it will not do any good. We need a big heart and a big mind in this matter,” Tharoor said.