Dhaka: A routine cricket board decision has snowballed into a diplomatic storm, with Bangladesh contemplating a sweeping ban on the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 following the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) directive to release quick bowler Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders.
The move, perceived as a slight to national pride, has ignited widespread outrage across Bangladesh. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Advisor Asif Nazrul took to social media, lambasting the BCCI and calling on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to halt all IPL coverage. “Bangladesh will not compromise on its cricket, players, and honour,” he asserted, urging a firm stand against what he termed disrespectful treatment.
Adding to the controversy, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has petitioned the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns. While BCB President Aminul Islam remained tight-lipped, noting no formal communication from BCCI, information adviser Sayeda Rizwana Hassan lamented the politicisation of sports. “Sports should foster ties between nations, but here it’s doing the opposite,” she said, adding that any ban would undergo thorough legal scrutiny.
This escalating row threatens to strain India-Bangladesh cricketing ties, potentially reshaping the IPL’s global footprint.
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