Tharoor Slams KKR for Dropping Mustafizur, Warns Against Politicizing Sports Amid Bangladesh Tensions

• Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized KKR's decision to drop Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman, linking it to attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.
• Tharoor condemned the "mindless politicization" of sports, questioning if a nation, individual, or religion was being punished for unrelated issues.
• He highlighted the hypocrisy by asking what if the player were Hindu Bangladeshi cricketers Litton Das or Soumya Sarkar.
• Rahman was signed by KKR for Rs 9.20 crore for IPL 2026, but BJP leaders, including Sangeet Som, demanded his removal, calling Shah Rukh Khan a "traitor."
• Tharoor asserted Rahman's innocence, stating he had no role in the incidents, and urged India to pressure Dhaka directly, not through sports boycotts.

Why It Matters: Shashi Tharoor warns against politicizing sports and punishing individuals for unrelated geopolitical issues.