The Bangladesh pacer, known for staying away from the spotlight, has broken his silence only through his actions and a simple message of acceptance.
That eventually led Bangladesh to decide against travelling to India for the T20 World Cup and the cancellation of a high-profile India–Pakistan clash.
Speaking on his behalf, Bangladesh national team assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin shared Mustafizur’s reaction on Tuesday at Mirpur. Salahuddin, who will serve as head coach of Dhūmaketu XI in the upcoming Unbeaten Bangladesh T20 tournament, where Mustafizur will also feature, revealed that the pacer has taken the matter in stride.
“I asked Mustafizur myself what he thought about it. He said, ‘Let it go.’ Meaning, what’s gone is gone,” Salahuddin told reporters.
Kolkata Knight Riders had signed Mustafizur for the IPL for INR 92 million, but the franchise later released him following directives from the BCCI amid security concerns after threats from extremist groups. According to Salahuddin, Mustafizur believes there is no value in worrying about matters beyond his control.
Salahuddin said he personally found Mustafizur’s mindset inspiring. “He could have been devastated — it was a lot of money. But he understands that this wasn’t in his hands. That’s something worth learning from him, and maybe others will learn from it too.”
Following Mustafizur’s IPL exit, Bangladesh opted not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup due to security concerns and proposed playing their matches in Sri Lanka instead. However, the ICC did not approve the request. Given that many players had waited two years for the World Cup opportunity, disappointment was inevitable.
Salahuddin acknowledged the mental challenge faced by the players. “It’s very hard to just move on from something like this. Not everyone is mentally strong. But if you keep dwelling on it, you only harm yourself,” he said.
