Was IPL governing council consulted on Mustafizur Rahman’s exit? Know entire scenario so far

The abrupt removal of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has created a buzz within the cricketing world. Kolkatta Knight Riders selected Mustafizur for the upcoming season, however the reason for his removal from the tournament was not due to any performance related issues, injury concerns, or scheduling conflicts. Rather, it is believed the nature of the decision was very administrative in nature and therefore opened the floodgates for questions surrounding the nature of how such a high-profile decision was made, and who participated in the decision making process.

Many have speculated that Mustafizur's removal was not based upon his play but rather something to do with the administration of the tournament. Current discussions focus on the IPL Governing Council , which is the LLC entity responsible for ensuring that the operational aspects of the IPL are delivered with integrity. Major decisions made by the franchisees that will affect them, as well as other players from foreign countries, are traditionally expected to go through an organized governance process, however there is no current clarity on whether or not the council was consulted before this decision was made.

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Some reports indicate that the decision was made very quickly at the top of the administration of cricket with instructions passed down to the franchisee directly. While you can certainly see a need for urgency to be a factor when the decision was made, you must also wonder if proper due process was followed. The fact that there is no clear process for consultation makes it appear as though there were numerous issues with coordination and decision making in the overall IPL administrative structure.

Governance Issues & Broader Consequences:

This issue of franchise governance has raised awareness about the issue of governance within franchise cricket. When the governing bodies are perceived as not having a central role, they create doubt about their institutional credibility and an overall lack of consistency for both players and franchises. The global nature of the IPL means that decisions that occur without adequate oversight may not only affect the tournament, but also have significant reputational consequences for the IPL as well as the franchisees and players.

Additionally to the domestic governance issues, Mustafizur Rahman's exit represents an international response to cricketing decisions and demonstrates how cricketing decisions can influence one's national pride. Therefore, this situation highlights the need for structured consultation and the need for transparency when developing rules and regulations within international leagues. With this in mind, it is important for the IPL's Governing Council to have a clear and open channel of communication with their members and to be able to communicate the importance of maintaining the integrity and reputation of the IPL as an International Cricket Council (ICC) Member.