The Bangladesh government has ordered the suspension of the broadcast of all matches for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season amid the controversy surrounding Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman.
This decision follows Rahman’s release from the IPL based on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), sparking widespread debate and criticism in Bangladesh.
Reacting to this development, a former BCCI official stated that the move by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was a natural response. “For every action, there is a reaction. The Bangladesh Cricket Board is merely doing what it believes is within its authority. Takleef hui hai, so obviously there will be a reaction,” the official remarked. However, he noted that India or the IPL is unlikely to be impacted by this decision.
“Under a directive issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), 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,” stated the Bangladesh Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
“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,” the statement added.
Following Rahman’s release, the BCB convened an emergency board meeting and has approached the International Cricket Council (ICC), seeking 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 scheduled to co-host the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with matches slated across multiple venues in both countries.