There will be no telecast of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in Bangladesh, the country’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry said in a statement on Monday. The statement cited the ouster of Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ squad for the 2026 season as the reason behind the indefinite ban.
“This is to inform that the Indian Cricket Board has given the instruction to the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League which is due to start on March 26. This decision has hurt and angered the Bangladesh citizens. Due to this, request is made as per instructions to stop the broadcast/telecast of all matches and programmes of the Indian Premier League,” said the ministry in its statement.
The move comes a day after Asif Nazrul, the advisor for Youth and Sports in the Mohammad Yunus-led interim government of Bangladesh, said in a statement on his Facebook page that he has requested the country’s Information and Broadcasting Advisor to not broadcast IPL matches in the country. “We won’t stand for any insult to Bangladesh’s cricket, cricketers and the country. The days of slavery are over,” he said concluding his statement.
The ongoing political crisis between the two countries has thrown a shadow of uncertainty on their cricketing ties, with the BCCI on Saturday also putting India’s tour of Bangladesh later this year on hold along with getting KKR to release Mustafizur.
“We didn’t travel to Bangladesh last year too, BCB had issued their international calendar, but it looks doubtful, as we need Indian government approval to play in any other country. As far as the T20I World Cup is concerned, Bangladesh will play as per the scheduled games in India,” a top BCCI official had told the Indian Express.
Political storm over KKR’s Mustafizur Rahman acquisition
KKR had bought Mustafizur in the auction ahead of the 2026 season of the IPL in December. However, in recent days, KKR and their co-owner, Bollywood superstar, Shah Rukh Khan came under intense criticism and pressure, with various political leaders calling for the three-time IPL champions to remove Rahman from their squad.
Hindu spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadrachary had called the 60-year-old actor “anti-national”, adding that he had no character.
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“…It is unfortunate (Shah Rukh Khan took Bangladeshi cricketer in KKR for IPL 2026), but he will do so because he is considered a hero. Shah Rukh Khan’s stance has consistently been at odds with the nation. He has no character. His character has always been questionable and anti-national,” Rambhadrachary said.
Shiv Sena leader Anand Dubey had also targetted the actor, adding that they would not allow Rahman to play at “any cost”.
“If Shah Rukh Khan plays him and earns money, that money will be used to nurture terrorists there and conspire against our country. We will not allow this to happen at any cost,” he said.
KKR said in a statement that came shortly after BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced communicating with the franchise, that it has released Mustafizur. “The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India. BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course,” it added.
