Maharashtra State Minorities Commission chairman Pyare Khan on January 1 urged actor Shah Rukh Khan to keep Bangladeshi cricketers out of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). “I appeal to Shah Rukh Khan that these Bangladeshi players must be completely banned,” said Pyare Khan, adding, “This is absolutely not in our national interests… it’s completely wrong.” He added, “A country where minorities are not safe can never progress. The minority community there, our Hindu brethren, are also our responsibility.”
Pyare Khan’s remarks came amid controversy over KKR’s IPL 2026 auction pick of Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman in Abu Dhabi for Rs. 9.20 crore. Mustafizur is the sole Bangladeshi player bought for the 2026 season.