Bangladesh bans IPL telecast after Mustafizur Rahman dropped from KKR squad

Dhaka/New Delhi: The Bangladesh government on Monday announced the suspension of the broadcast of all Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 matches in the country, escalating a diplomatic and sporting standoff triggered by the release of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad.

The decision comes days after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directed KKR to release Rahman from their IPL 2026 roster, citing recent developments in Bangladesh, including alleged atrocities against minorities. The IPL is scheduled to begin on March 26.

In an official statement, Bangladesh’s Press Information Department (PID) said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had ordered an immediate suspension of all IPL matches and related programming across television and digital platforms until further notice. “Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has informed through an official letter that, until further notice, all IPL matches and related programs will remain suspended from broadcast/telecast in Bangladesh,” the statement said.

The move marks a sharp response from Dhaka following KKR’s announcement that Rahman had been removed from the squad in compliance with BCCI instructions. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had earlier confirmed that the franchise was asked to release the Bangladesh international “due to recent developments.”

The IPL broadcast ban also comes amid rising tensions between the two cricket boards. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally approached the International Cricket Council (ICC), seeking to relocate Bangladesh’s matches in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup from India to alternate venues, citing safety and security concerns for its players and officials. The tournament is set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Reacting to the developments, former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh said the ICC must take a call on Bangladesh’s request, while reiterating that India remains open to hosting all teams. “Due to the various events that have taken place in the past few days, Bangladesh does not want to come to India. Whatever happened in Bangladesh is wrong. ICC needs to make a decision on their request. We welcome everyone to India, but whether they (Bangladesh) want to come here or not is their choice,” Harbhajan told ANI.