Former India cricketer and current PGTI president Kapil Dev has stated that no decision has been made yet regarding the participation of Bangladesh players amid the ongoing tension between the two neighboring countries. He confirmed that the PGTI will hold a board meeting to discuss the issue.
Tensions have risen between the two nations in recent weeks due to reports of violent incidents against religious minorities. According to Kapil Dev, a meeting will be convened soon to address the participation of players from Bangladesh. Notable Bangladeshi golfers competing in the PGTI tour include Jamal Hossain, Md Siddikur Rahman, and Md Akbar Hossain.
“There has been no decision yet regarding the participation of Bangladesh players in the PGTI. A board meeting will be held, after which the matter will be discussed and an update will be shared with everyone,” stated Kapil Dev.
In light of increasing atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, the BCCI directed the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release pace spearhead Mustafizur Rahman from their squad.
In response, the Bangladesh government announced the suspension of the broadcast of all matches for the upcoming IPL season. A statement from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting noted, “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.”
Due to rising security concerns and government advisories, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested the ICC to relocate all their T20 World Cup matches scheduled in February to Sri Lanka.
India and Sri Lanka are set to co-host the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with matches planned across multiple venues in both countries.