Kolkata Knight Riders' acquisition of Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2026 has sparked political controversy. BJP leader Kaustav Bagchi warned against allowing Bangladeshi players in Kolkata matches, threatening to block Shah Rukh Khan's entry and linking the signing to potential violence. Critics cite strained India-Bangladesh relations and reports of violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh as reasons for their opposition to the Rs 9.20 crore purchase.