India may treat Bangladesh cricket like Pakistan after Mustafizur Rahman delivery reports

India’s proposed ODI and T20I tour of Bangladesh in September 2026 has been put on hold by the Board of Control for Cricket in India amid rising political tensions, with the final call now resting on Indian government approval.

A senior BCCI official confirmed that India also did not tour Bangladesh last year and any foreign tour would require government approval. For now, the Bangladesh series remains uncertain and could be dropped from the calendar altogether.

The official clarified that the uncertainty surrounding the bilateral tour will not impact global events. Bangladesh’s matches at the T20 World Cup to be held in India will go ahead as planned without any changes.

The tense backdrop has also affected the IPL. The BCCI ordered Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad and the franchise complied with the order.

KKR had bought Mustafizur for ₹9.20 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, making him the only Bangladesh player to be picked this season. His signing later came under heavy scrutiny following the murder of a Hindu man in Bangladesh.

Public pressure on both the BCCI and KKR increased, with Shah Rukh Khan as co-owner of the team also receiving criticism. The issue soon went beyond cricket and provoked political and social reactions.

In an official statement, KKR said, “Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI, as regulator of IPL, has directed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad. The release was carried out following due process.”

The BCCI’s approach has been likened to India’s long-standing stand on Pakistan. India has not toured Pakistan since 2006 and Pakistani players have been banned from playing in the IPL due to ongoing cross-border tensions.

Officials suggest Bangladesh could now face similar restrictions if the situation does not improve. The cricket ties may be limited to ICC events, while bilateral tours and league participation will still be assessed.

For Bangladesh cricket, this development raises concerns about future relations with India, both on the international calendar and in franchise competitions, as off-field events continue to influence on-field decisions.