Bangladesh has imposed an indefinite ban on all IPL broadcasts, advertisements and promotions in the country, further escalating the fallout from the Mustafizur Rahman controversy.
The order was issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on January 5, citing “public interest” as the reason for the blackout.
The move comes as Dhaka protests against the Board of Control for Cricket in India and orders Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman before IPL 2026.
Officials in Bangladesh have called the decision illogical and unfair, saying it has angered fans and damaged cricket ties between the two countries.
“There is no logical reason for this decision by the Indian Cricket Board and such a decision has alarmed, shocked and angered the people of Bangladesh,” a senior official said.
BCCI’s directives towards KKR were reportedly related to recent violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, although no formal bilateral tensions were publicly mentioned by the Indian administration.
The situation now extends beyond the IPL. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided that the national team will not travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup under the current circumstances.
In a strong statement, the BCB said security concerns were central to the decision and that it had acted after consultation with the government of Bangladesh.
“After a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and growing concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladeshi contingent in India, the Council has decided that the team will not travel under the current circumstances,” the statement said.
BCB has also written a letter to the International Cricket Council, requesting it to shift the T20 World Cup matches in Bangladesh to a neutral venue like Sri Lanka.
“If they can’t provide safety for one of our players, how can they guarantee the safety of our entire team?” asked another official.
The standoff has drawn comparisons to Pakistan’s previous restrictions on IPL broadcasts during periods of political tension with India.
What started as a franchise-level issue involving an IPL contract has now evolved into a wider diplomatic and cricket dispute, impacting the Indian Premier League and threatening Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, partly to be held in India.
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