According to a recent development, BCB government adviser Asif Nazrul has reportedly directed the Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Ministry to stop the broadcast of IPL matches in Bangladesh. The message from the government appears firm, with officials making it clear that the country will not tolerate any form of insult.
Much like Indo-Pak relations, ties between India and Bangladesh have worsened significantly in recent times. The situation escalated after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from power following anti-government protests and later sentenced to death by a tribunal.
Since the formation of the new interim government, religious tensions have reportedly intensified, with several incidents involving brutal attacks on Hindus across the country.
While the BCCI has not officially linked political unrest to the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, the directive from Bangladesh seems to be influenced by protests from Indian groups and the ongoing anti-Bangladesh sentiment within India.
BCB Orders IPL Broadcast Suspension
The situation escalated further after Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad by the BCCI, despite being picked during the IPL auction. Following this unexplained move, the BCB took a strong stand against the IPL’s presence in Bangladesh.
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Government adviser Asif Nazrul requested the adviser to the Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Ministry to ensure IPL matches are not aired in the country.
“I have requested the adviser for Information and Broadcasting to ensure that the broadcast of the IPL in Bangladesh is also suspended.
“Under no circumstances will we tolerate any insult to Bangladeshi cricket, cricketers, or Bangladesh itself. The days of servitude are over,” he said.
BCB Looks to Shift T20 World Cup Matches
Before this controversy, the BCB had been trying to ease tensions between the two cricket boards. Relations had shown signs of improvement after India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s funeral in Dhaka. Around the same time, both boards announced the India tour of Bangladesh, which was postponed from 2025 to 2026.
However, after Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL, Asif Nazrul advised the BCB and its chairman, Aminul Islam Bulbul, to approach the ICC. The request was to move Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup group matches from India to Sri Lanka.
“As the adviser in charge of the Ministry of Sports, I have instructed the Cricket Control Board to put the entire matter in writing and explain it to the ICC,” Nazrul wrote in Bengali on his Facebook page.
According to the BCB’s reasoning, if a contracted Bangladeshi player is unable to participate safely in franchise cricket in India, then the national team, which includes the same player, does not feel secure traveling there for an ICC event.
BCCI Rejects Venue Change Demands
Bangladesh is currently scheduled to play three T20 World Cup matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. The sudden demand to shift venues has raised eyebrows, as Bangladesh is seeking an arrangement similar to Pakistan’s, where matches involving the team would be held only in Sri Lanka, even in the knockout stages.
A BCCI official told TOI that such last-minute changes are nearly impossible with the tournament just a month away.
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“You can’t just change games at someone’s whims and fancies. It is a logistical nightmare. Think about opposition teams. Their air tickets and hotels are booked.
“Also, on all days there are three games each, which means one game is in Sri Lanka. There is a broadcast crew. So it will be easier said than done,” the source concluded.
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