Shashi Tharoor argues that banning Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL is a diplomatic blunder, conflating Bangladesh's internal dynamics with Pakistan's hostility. He criticizes targeting an individual sportsman as a response to border issues and violence against minorities, stating it politicizes the IPL and undermines its integrity. Tharoor emphasizes that players vetted by the BCCI should not face retroactive exclusion based on their nationality, advocating for sensitive diplomatic management over such punitive measures.