IPL broadcasts have now been banned in Bangladesh. On Monday (January 5), the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus announced that the broadcasting of IPL matches, IPL-related advertisements, and all IPL-related promotions have been temporarily banned. The ban on IPL broadcasts will remain in effect until further notice. The Bangladeshi administration took this step as ‘retaliation’ for Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the IPL.
On Monday morning, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh issued a statement regarding the IPL issue. It stated, “The Indian Cricket Board has instructed that Mustafizur Rahman be excluded from the 2026 IPL. No logical reason for this decision is known. However, this decision regarding Mustafizur has saddened, hurt, and angered the people of Bangladesh. Therefore, all broadcasts of IPL matches and other related content are ordered to be stopped until further notice. This order has been issued in the public interest.”
Why BCCI dropped Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL?
On Saturday (January 3), the Indian board announced that Mustafizur would not be allowed to play in the upcoming IPL. The BCCI made its position clear in light of controversy surrounding playing the Bangladeshi pacer for IPL in KKR team amid bilateral tensions. Board secretary Devjit Saikia told news agency ANI that the BCCI has informed Kolkata Knight Riders that KKR must release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman. They can, however, sign another player if they wish, the board gives permission for the same.
In Bangladesh, minorities are suffering from insecurity due to the aggression of fundamentalists and violence in the name of religion. A section of cricket fans is outraged by this. This year, the Knight Riders signed one of Bangladesh’s best pacers for a record Rs 9.2 crore. However, Hindu nationalist groups strongly objected to Rahman’s inclusion in the team which gave birth to controversy. Even Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner Shah Rukh Khan was tagged “traitor” and “anti-national” for purchasing Mustafizur in mini-auction.
A BCCI source initially stated that the matter was not in the board’s hands, as there had been no directive from the government regarding whether Bangladeshis could play in the IPL. Mustafizur is the only Bangladeshi player in this year’s IPL. Amid speculation, the board clarified its position on Saturday.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told ANI, “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. BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, the board is going to grant permission for that.”
Since BCCI’s announcement, the India-Bangladesh cricketing relationship has practically crumbled like a house of cards. Reportedly due to pressure from the Yunus government, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has written to the ICC stating that Bangladesh does not want to play in India. The Bangladesh board has even expressed doubts about India’s security.