The Bangladesh government has mandated the suspension of the broadcast of all matches of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season amid the controversy surrounding Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman.
This decision follows Rahman’s release from the IPL due to instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), sparking widespread debate and criticism in Bangladesh.
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Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a statement: “It is hereby informed that a directive issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has come to notice, whereby Bangladesh’s star cricketer Mr Mustafizur Rahman has been excluded from the Kolkata Knight Riders team for the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament scheduled to commence on March 26, 2026. No reasonable justification for such a decision by the BCCI is known, and this decision has caused pain, distress, and anger among the people of Bangladesh”.
The ministry’s statement further added: “Under these circumstances, until further instructions are issued, it is hereby ordered that the broadcast/telecast of all Indian Premier League (IPL) matches and related programmes be suspended.”
BCCI Reacts
Commenting on the development, a former BCCI official described the move by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as a natural reaction. “For every action, there is a reaction. The Bangladesh Cricket Board is merely doing what it believes is within its authority. ‘Takleef hui hai‘ (must’ve troubled them), so obviously there will be a reaction,” the official was quoted as saying by IANS.
However, he added that India or the IPL is unlikely to be affected by the decision.
Following Rahman’s release, the BCB held an emergency board meeting and contacted the International Cricket Council (ICC), requesting the relocation of Bangladesh’s matches in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup from India, citing safety and security concerns.
India and Sri Lanka are set to co-host the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with matches scheduled at various venues in both countries.
(With inputs from Agencies)
