Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has downplayed concerns around Mustafizur Rahman’s mental state following his release from Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, insisting the left-arm pacer remains unfazed and fully focused on his cricket. According to a TOI report, Ashraful, speaking as assistant coach of Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League, said Mustafizur has shown no signs of distraction despite the controversy surrounding the BCCI directive that led to his exit amid rising political tensions between India and Bangladesh.

According to Ashraful, Mustafizur is “completely chill” and unconcerned by off-field discussions involving the Bangladesh Cricket Board, the IPL, or international politics. His attention, Ashraful stressed, is solely on delivering performances for Rangpur Riders, after which he will turn his focus to future assignments. Ashraful described Mustafizur as a player of exceptional mental strength, capable of isolating himself from external noise.

Assessing his BPL form, Ashraful admitted that Mustafizur started the tournament quietly, but highlighted his decisive role in Rangpur’s recent win over Dhaka. In particular, his death bowling in the final two overs was praised as world-class, underlining his value and reputation as one of the best T20 bowlers.

‘Cricketing’ tensions

Meanwhile, the ICC has issued a firm warning to the Bangladesh Cricket Board, making it clear that Bangladesh must travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup or face forfeiture of their matches and points. This decision effectively rejects Bangladesh’s request to shift its group-stage games to a neutral venue due to security concerns and strained diplomatic relations with India.

According to reports, the ICC executive board reviewed the matter and concluded there were no exceptional circumstances to justify relocating fixtures at short notice. The ICC stressed that the BCCI has provided high-level security assurances for all teams. Under tournament rules, any team refusing to play scheduled matches without approval will forfeit those games, leaving Bangladesh with zero points and likely elimination.

The standoff follows Bangladesh’s IPL broadcast ban and advisory against travel to India, compounded by Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL release. The BCB now faces a difficult decision between complying with ICC regulations or risking sanctions and revenue loss.