KEY POINTS
- BCB petitions ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches from India.
- The move marks Bangladesh’s first-ever ban on international cricket tournament broadcast.
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Bangladesh on Monday banned the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, citing public interest concerns.
The drastic move comes as a direct response to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructing the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad without a stated reason.
‘Distress’ and ‘public interest’ cited
A statement from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting declared the ban, noting it had “noted that no reason was communicated for the decision behind Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion [from the IPL]”.
The ministry stated that the development had “caused distress among the people of Bangladesh.” The decision was taken “in public interest,” the ministry said.
This marks the first time Bangladesh has banned the telecast of an international cricket tournament. The IPL has been broadcast in the country since the league’s inception in 2008.
BCCI’s unexplained directive
The controversy erupted on Saturday when KKR, the franchise that bought Mustafizur at December’s auction, released him following instructions from the BCCI.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia only cited “recent developments” as the cause, offering no further elaboration.
BCB takes dual action
In tandem with the government’s broadcast ban, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has launched a two-pronged countermeasure.
Firstly, the BCB confirmed on Sunday that it has formally written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking to relocate Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup away from India.
Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament, is the proposed alternative venue. Bangladesh is scheduled to open their campaign against West Indies at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on February 7.
Secondly, the BCB has sought an explanation from the BCCI regarding the circumstances of Mustafizur’s withdrawal.
Unprecedented ban
While Pakistani players have faced an unspoken ban from the IPL for over a decade, several Bangladeshi cricketers have participated historically.
Mustafizur, an IPL regular since 2016 and a past winner, was set to be the sole representative from his country in the 2026 season.
Other notable Bangladeshi participants over the years include Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, and Tamim Iqbal.
The Bangladesh government’s decision was precipitated by public statements from its advisers.
Dr. Asif Nazrul, the sports adviser, first suggested the IPL should not be shown, after which Information Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated a formal decision would follow a legal review.
The 2026 IPL season is set to begin on March 26, but fans in Bangladesh will now be barred from watching it on television or streaming platforms.
