Government cites “public interest” as reason after BCCI-directed withdrawal of Mustafizur from KKR squad

The Bangladesh government has officially banned the broadcast of IPL 2026 across the country following the withdrawal of Mustafizur Rahman from the tournament, a decision taken by the BCCI and communicated to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The move marks an unprecedented step, as this is the first time Bangladesh has blocked the telecast of an international cricket league.

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In a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the government said it had “noted that no reason was communicated for the decision behind Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the IPL,” adding that the development had “caused distress among the people of Bangladesh.” The ministry said the ban was imposed “in public interest.”
The statement was signed by assistant secretary Firoz Khan.

The IPL has been broadcast in Bangladesh since its inception in 2008, making this the first-ever blackout of the league in the country. The decision follows KKR’s announcement on Saturday that Mustafizur, who was bought at the IPL 2026 auction in December, had been released from their squad on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia referred only to “recent developments” and declined to provide further clarification.

In the days leading up to the release, several Indian spiritual and political leaders reportedly criticised KKR and team owner Shah Rukh Khan for including a Bangladeshi player amid claims of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have since become increasingly strained.

The situation has also spilled over into the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, with Bangladesh petitioning the ICC to shift their matches out of India, possibly to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host. As of now, no final decision has been taken. Bangladesh are scheduled to begin their campaign against West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on February 7.

On Saturday evening, Bangladesh government sports adviser Dr Asif Nazrul publicly stated that the IPL should not be broadcast in the country. Shortly after, information adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said any such decision would be taken only after reviewing its legal basis and following due procedure.

Later on Sunday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed it had formally written to the ICC seeking relocation of their World Cup fixtures and had also approached the BCCI for an explanation regarding Mustafizur Rahman’s withdrawal.

While players from Pakistan have effectively remained absent from the IPL for years, several Bangladeshi cricketers have featured in the league. Mustafizur Rahman, an IPL regular since 2016, was the only Bangladeshi player picked for IPL 2026. Former captain Shakib Al Hasan, who has represented KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad, is the other major Bangladeshi name to have enjoyed long-term IPL success.

Other Bangladeshi players who have appeared in the IPL include Abdur Razzak, Mohammad Ashraful, Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, and Litton Das.
The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to begin on March 26.