Bangladesh bans IPL broadcast indefinitely in Country amid Mustafizur row

Bangladesh authorities have swiftly imposed an indefinite suspension on all IPL broadcasts and promotions nationwide, triggered by outrage over Kolkata Knight Riders dropping star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad ahead of IPL 2026. The move stems from a BCCI directive to KKR, which Bangladeshi officials slammed for lacking justification and sparking widespread public anger.

Bangladesh's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued the order on January 5, citing "public interest" after deeming the BCCI's instruction to release Mustafizur as illogical. "There is no logical reason for this decision of the Indian Cricket Board and such a decision has distressed, shocked and angered the people of Bangladesh," the government statement declared.

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KKR complied with the BCCI's guidance, which cited recent developments including reported violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, though no explicit bilateral tensions were named publicly.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) responded by boycotting travel to India for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup starting February 7, where their Group C league games were set in Kolkata and Mumbai. "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," BCB announced.

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BCB director Khaled Mashud Pilot questioned India's ability to secure the team, asking, "If they cannot provide security to one of our players, how will they ensure the security of our entire team?"

The IPL ban halts all related TV, radio, and promotional content in Bangladesh until further notice, echoing similar restrictions by Pakistan. BCB has urged the ICC to shift their T20 World Cup matches to neutral venues like Sri Lanka, posing logistical challenges for the India-Sri Lanka hosted event.