The Indian Premier League (IPL) will not be televised in Bangladesh, according to a statement released on Monday by the country’s Information and Broadcasting Ministry. The statement stated that the indefinite ban was due to the removal of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ squad for the 2026 season.
“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 action was taken a day after Asif Nazrul, the advisor for youth and sports in Bangladesh’s interim administration led by Mohammad Yunus, stated on his Facebook page that he had asked the nation’s information and broadcasting advisor to refrain from airing IPL matches there. “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 current political unrest between the two nations has cast doubt on their cricketing relationship; on Saturday, the BCCI postponed India’s tour of Bangladesh for later this year and ordered 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,” an Indian Express report quoted a top BCCI official as saying.
Prior to the 2026 IPL season, Mustafizur was purchased by KKR at an auction held in December. However, KKR and their co-owner, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, have faced harsh criticism and pressure in recent days, with a number of political figures demanding that the three-time IPL champions remove Rahman from their squad.
In a statement issued shortly after BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed communication with the franchise, KKR said it had 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.
