Will Mustafizur Rahman get any part of Rs 9.20 crores after IPL exit? The rule says…

The fast bowler from Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman, does not seem likely to get any kind of monetary compensation after he was let go by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) following an instruction from the BCCI, without having any relation to the incident for which he lost his deal. Mustafizur was bought by KKR in IPL auction for 9.20 crores after a cut-throat battle between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, but he has been released following a series of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, following which the Indian cricket board stepped in. The BCB has now asked for their T20 World Cup matches to be held in Sri Lanka instead of in India.

This has raised questions about the player’s rights, as Mustafizur Rahman was not withdrawing from the team of his own accord or charged with anything untoward either. But, according to sources, the existing system of insurance and agreements makes compensation impossible now. This is also not an exit under the usual conditions of either an injury or a cricketer’s reason, which would have made KKR pay him anyway because of the contract. The geopolitical scenario at play makes everything additionally complicated.

“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,” an IPL source in the know of things told PTI on condition of anonymity.

“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 of Sport (CAS) route,” the source said.

Thus, Mustafizur, who is one of the most pricey IPL recruits with a spotless professional record, is expected to take a leave without being paid anything, owing to the lack of protection available for cricketers when political/administrative issues supersede matters pertaining to cricket.

(With PTI Inputs)