Mustafizur never condoned hate speech; BCCI decision 'appalling': Tharoor

Tharoor described as “appalling” the decision that led to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) releasing Mustafizur Rahman, saying the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was unnecessarily politicising a sporting call. He argued that objections were being raised despite franchises being asked to pick from a player pool prepared by the BCCI itself, and questioned why KKR should be faulted for selecting a player who had been included in that list. 

Tharoor raises “moral objection”, warns against blanket ban on Bangladesh players

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said a “moral objection” was being raised over cricket being made to bear the brunt of social media outrage, even as India and Bangladesh continued to engage at multiple other levels. He argued that a single player was being targeted despite, he said, not having condoned hate speech or spoken against India or the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, and asked who was being “victimised” by the decision.

Tharoor also questioned what message would be sent if public outrage was allowed to make every Bangladeshi cricketer ineligible to play in India. He pointed to Bangladeshi Hindu cricketers such as Litton Das and Soumya Sarkar, who have played in the IPL in the past, asking whether they too would have been removed had they been picked — and if not, whether such a move would suggest selective intolerance.