Dhaka: The interim government of Bangladesh has ordered an indefinite suspension of the telecast of the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The move further triggers a growing dispute linked to the removal of fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad.
The IPL is scheduled to begin on March 26, but Bangladesh authorities said the decision to halt broadcasts was taken after they took note of a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India that led to Mustafizur’s exclusion from the franchise. Officials said no clear explanation was provided for the move, which they said had sparked widespread public anger in Bangladesh.
In a statement issued by the TV-2 wing of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the government said the lack of clarity surrounding the pacer’s release had caused distress across the country. The order, signed by assistant secretary Mohammad Firoz Khan, instructed broadcasters to stop the promotion and airing of all IPL matches and related programming until further notice.
The controversy has also spilled into the international cricket arena. On Sunday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board formally approached the International Cricket Council, asking for Bangladesh’s matches in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup to be shifted out of India. The board cited safety and security concerns, reflecting rising tensions between the two cricketing neighbours.
The dispute gained momentum after Kolkata Knight Riders announced that Mustafizur had been dropped from their IPL 2026 roster following instructions from the BCCI. The franchise said it acted in line with guidance from the Indian board amid concerns related to recent developments in Bangladesh.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia later confirmed that the board had advised the franchise to release the Bangladeshi pacer, without going into detailed public explanations. The move has been interpreted in Bangladesh as politically charged, adding to already strained relations.
Mustafizur, one of Bangladesh’s most recognisable cricketing figures, has enjoyed a strong following in the country and abroad. His removal from the IPL, one of the world’s most-watched cricket leagues, has triggered an emotional response among fans and commentators in Bangladesh.
With the IPL broadcast ban now in place and calls to relocate World Cup matches under consideration, the episode has underscored how cricket continues to intersect with diplomacy and regional politics in South Asia.
