Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Sanjay Nirupam has demanded that Shah Rukh Khan reconsider Rahman’s inclusion in the team. "Given the current tensions, it would be in the best interest of both Shah Rukh Khan and the country to remove him," Nirupam said in a statement, reflecting growing concerns over the political implications of the decision.
The controversy gained further traction when Congress leader Supriya Shrinate questioned the role of Jay Shah, the ICC Chief and son of Home Minister Amit Shah, in the inclusion of foreign players in the IPL auction pool. Shrinate pointedly asked, “Who included a Bangladeshi cricketer in the auction pool?” suggesting that as the ICC Chief, Jay Shah might be indirectly responsible for the decision.
In response to the growing political furor, BJP leaders, including Uttar Pradesh MLA Sangeet Som, accused Shah Rukh Khan of betraying India by associating with a Bangladeshi cricketer, citing the ongoing attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Som called for a ban on Bangladeshi players in the IPL, paralleling the existing ban on Pakistani cricketers. "If Pakistani players are not allowed, Bangladeshi players should not be either," Som declared, echoing nationalist sentiments.
On the other hand, Congress MP Manickam Tagore B defended the move, calling criticism of Shah Rukh Khan’s decision an attack on India's pluralism. “Calling Shah Rukh Khan a traitor is dangerous. Hatred should not define nationalism," he stated, urging an end to divisive rhetoric.
Religious leaders have also weighed in. Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association, condemned the criticism of Khan, asserting that the IPL should remain a platform for sports without political interference. He stressed that buying a cricketer was part of the sporting spirit, irrespective of national borders.
Despite the backlash, some, like Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi of the All India Muslim Jamaat, defended KKR’s choice, arguing that supporting a Bangladeshi player does not equate to betrayal. “Indian Muslims also stand with the minorities in Bangladesh,” he remarked.
The debate is likely to continue as the IPL season approaches, with political leaders and public figures divided over the intersection of sports and geopolitics.
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