Former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi found himself at the centre of an unexpected media storm during the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) when a reporter dragged him into the politically charged controversy surrounding Mustafizur Rahman and his IPL 2026 exit. What was meant to be a routine press interaction quickly turned tense, with Nabi firmly shutting down a question he felt had nothing to do with him or the tournament.
The reporter asked Nabi to comment on the growing row over Kolkata Knight Riders’ decision to release Mustafizur, which followed diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh. The BCCI had instructed KKR to let the left-arm pacer go, triggering backlash from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). However, Nabi was clearly unimpressed by being asked to weigh in on the issue.
“Iska mere se kya lena dena bhai? Mera Mustafizur se kya kaam hai? Politics me kya kaam hai mera?” Nabi snapped. He made it clear that while he respects Mustafizur as a quality bowler, he had no interest in commenting on political or administrative matters that were far removed from his role in the BPL.
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The former Afghanistan skipper reminded the media that the focus should remain on cricket, not off-field controversies. The Mustafizur situation has snowballed into a much bigger issue, with the BCB writing to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and requesting that Bangladesh’s matches in the T20 World Cup 2026 be shifted away from India.
Respect for Nabi & Afghanistan +9999 📈
Afghan cricketer Md. Nabi, who is currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), was asked about Mustafizur Rahman being released from the IPL.
Nabi got angry and refused to comment on the matter. 😡🤬🇮🇳 🩷 🇦🇫 pic.twitter.com/FoRFkPwpMy
— Jara (@JARA_Memer) January 12, 2026
Citing security concerns, the board said the current environment was unsafe for its players and fans. Bangladesh have been drawn in Group C and is scheduled to play their first three matches in Kolkata against West Indies, Italy, and England, before travelling to Mumbai to face Nepal. However, the ICC has reportedly pushed back against the BCB’s stance.
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According to a Cricbuzz report, an independent security agency appointed by the ICC found no credible threat to Bangladesh’s team in India. A source stated that the ICC’s risk assessment by internationally recognised experts does not support the claim that Bangladesh cannot safely play in India.
Despite this, the ICC is said to be exploring backup venues such as Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram as a contingency plan. While administrators debate behind the scenes, Mohammad Nabi’s sharp response has underlined a simple truth — players want to talk cricket, not politics.
