Bangladesh bans IPL broadcast over Mustafizur controversy

The IPL 2026 will not be telecast in Bangladesh as the country’s government has banned it in “public interest” following the BCCI’s decision to drop Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the tournament amid declining political ties between the neighbouring nations.

A statement from Bangladesh’s information and broadcasting ministry stated that it had "noted that no reason was communicated for the decision behind Mustafizur Rahman's exclusion [from the IPL]", adding that the move had led to “distress among the people of Bangladesh."

KKR, who had bought the left-arm pacer for INR 9.2 crore at the IPL auction last month, announced his release from the squad on BCCI’s instructions. The board did not specify the cause behind the move; however, the board’s secretary Devajit Saikia cited "recent developments" behind it.

"Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad, and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement," Saikia had told news agency ANI on January 3.

This is the first-ever instance of the Bangladesh government banning the telecast of an international cricket tournament. The IPL has been broadcast in Bangladesh on TV channels and streaming platforms since its inaugural season in 2008.

Mustafizur’s acquisition had led to a furore in India, with the country’s spiritual and political leaders criticising KKR and its owner Shah Rukh Khan for keeping ties with Bangladesh at a time when Hindu minorities are being attacked in the neighbouring country. The diplomatic ties between the two nations have nosedived since.

Bangladesh's sports adviser Asif Nazrul had also expressed concerns over the development and said on January 4 that he had written to the I&B ministry to ban IPL’s telecast in the country.

"I have asked the BCB to explain the entire matter to the ICC," Nazrul wrote on his official Facebook page. "The board should inform that where a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to play in the World Cup. I have also instructed the Board to request that Bangladesh's World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka."

The BCB board of directors met in an emergency meeting on the same day and decided not to send the contingent to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup, citing “safety and well-being” of its players. The BCB subsequently requested the ICC to move their T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. The ICC is reportedly mulling over it, although a final decision remains elusive.

"Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions," the BCB said in a statement.

"In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh's matches to a venue outside India."

Bangladesh have their first three games – against West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9), and England (February 14) – in Kolkata as per the original tournament schedule.