Dhaka: The Bangladesh government has ordered the suspension of the broadcast of all matches of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season following a controversy involving national pacer Mustafizur Rahman.
The decision comes in the wake of Rahman’s release from the IPL, reportedly following instructions issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The move has triggered widespread criticism and public backlash in Bangladesh, prompting an official response from the government.
In a statement, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said it had taken note of a BCCI directive under which Mustafizur Rahman was excluded from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the IPL, scheduled to begin on March 26, 2026. The ministry said no reasonable justification for the decision was known and described the development as having caused “pain, distress and anger” among the people of Bangladesh.
“Under these circumstances, until further instructions are issued, it is hereby ordered that the broadcast/telecast of all Indian Premier League (IPL) matches and related programmes be suspended,” the statement said.
Reacting to the development, a former BCCI official said the move by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the government was a natural reaction. “For every action, there is a reaction. The Bangladesh Cricket Board is merely doing what it believes is within its authority. ‘Takleef hui hai, so obviously there will be a reaction,’” the official said, while adding that the decision was unlikely to have any significant impact on India or the IPL.
Following Rahman’s release, the BCB convened an emergency board meeting and has also approached the International Cricket Council (ICC), seeking the relocation of Bangladesh’s matches in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup from India, citing safety and security concerns.
India and Sri Lanka are scheduled to co-host the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with matches planned across multiple venues in both countries.