Bangladesh cricket lovers face a major letdown as JioStar has cancelled its broadcasting pact with local channel TSports, blocking IPL 2026 from airing
despite hints of easing government curbs.
The termination letter, obtained by Reuters, states: "The agreement stands terminated with immediate effect. " TSports had held sub-licensing rights for IPL seasons 2023-2027, but JioStar blamed "continued failure and default in adhering to the payment timelines stipulated under the agreement. "
This fallout also scraps plans for the Women's Premier League in Bangladesh, driven purely by financial hiccups rather than the India-Bangladesh tensions that sparked an earlier broadcast ban.
Even as Bangladesh's Information and Broadcasting Ministry floated a policy review, pending sports ministry input, JioStar's pullout makes it moot for this season. The IPL's massive pull in the country means fans will miss out on live action, denting engagement big time.
IPL 2026 Termination Core Issue: Commercial Breakdown, Not Politics
India and Bangladesh have been at odds in recent times, but this recent termination is strictly due to financial terms without any political undercurrent.
As per JioStar, the Bangladeshi broadcaster T Sports has failed to meet their financial payment deadlines repeatedly, which has resulted in this collapse. The deal's collapse boils down to money troubles between JioStar and TSports, with repeated payment delays sealing its fate, not the diplomatic strains over cricket ties.
Although the new government in Bangladesh indicated a softer stance, JioStar's pullout means the end of IPL broadcasting in Bangladesh, at least for this season.
India and Bangladesh Mustafizur Saga
India and Bangladesh have been at odds in recent times, which escalated to such a level that it saw Bangladesh withdraw from the T20 World Cup.
The Mustafizur Rahman issue erupted during the IPL 2026 mini-auction in December 2025 when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) signed the Bangladesh left-arm pacer for a record ₹9.20 crore after a fierce bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. He became the only Bangladeshi player picked and the most expensive from his country in IPL history.
Soon after, amid rising India-Bangladesh tensions, fueled by reports of violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, political leaders, religious groups, and social media backlash targeted KKR and its co-owner Shah Rukh Khan.
KKR were forced to release Mustafizur, and that resulted in Bangladesh's withdrawal from T20 World Cup citing security reasons.
