Bangladesh Orders Suspension of IPL Telecast Over Mustafizur Controversy; Ex-BCCI Official Says League Unlikely to Be Impacted

Dhaka- The Bangladesh government has directed the suspension of the broadcast of all matches of the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season following the controversy surrounding Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman.

The decision comes in the wake of Rahman’s release from the IPL after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders to exclude the pacer from their squad. The move has triggered widespread criticism and public outrage in Bangladesh.

Reacting to the development, a former BCCI official described the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) response as predictable. “For every action, there is a reaction. The Bangladesh Cricket Board is doing what it believes falls within its authority. *Takleef hui hai*, so naturally there will be a response,” the official said. However, he maintained that the decision is unlikely to have any tangible impact on India or the IPL.

In an official statement, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said it had taken note of a directive issued by the BCCI that led to the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman 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 apparent and that the move had 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 and telecast of all Indian Premier League (IPL) matches and related programmes be suspended,” the statement added.

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 set to co-host the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with matches scheduled to be played across multiple venues in both countries.

—With inputs from IANS