Despite having no involvement in the events that resulted in the termination of his contract, Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman is unlikely to receive any cash compensation after being released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the BCCI’s orders.
After stiff bids from Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, Mustafizur was purchased by KKR at the IPL auction for Rs 9.20 crore. The Indian Board said that “the developments all around” made the decision necessary, although it did not explain why.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has demanded that its T20 World Cup matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka as payback.
Sources claim that the current insurance system allows little room for compensation, despite the fact that the move has sparked discussion over the player’s rights, particularly as he neither voluntarily withdrew from the tournament nor was charged with any misconduct.
“The salaries of all IPL players are insured. For foreign international players, normally the franchise pays if he is injured after joining the camp or during the course of the tournament.
“Normally up to 50 percent is paid from insurance. It is better for India’s injured centrally contracted cricketers who normally get paid by the BCCI,” a PTI report quoted an IPL source as saying.
But the typical insurance clauses do not apply to Mustafizur’s case. KKR is not required by contract to pay him anything because the release was not caused by an injury or a cricket-related reason related to league participation.
“In case of an insurance claim, this current situation isn’t covered so KKR are under no official obligation to pay a penny.
“It is unfortunate but Mustafizur doesn’t have much option but to take a legal route and that too IPL comes under Indian law jurisdiction. No overseas cricketer would want to go through this or take the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) route,” the source said.
The source went on to say that the larger geopolitical environment serves as a disincentive as well.
“The Indo-Bangladesh political scenario is way more fluid than Indo-Pak and it can change next year, so why would one take the risk of legal recourse,” the source added.
As things stand, Mustafizur looks destined to walk away empty-handed despite being a high-value acquisition and having no professional or disciplinary violations against him. This highlights the limitations of player protection in circumstances motivated more by administrative and political concerns than by sport.
