The Bangladesh government has ordered the indefinite suspension of the broadcast and live streaming of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in the country on Monday. The decision comes amid growing tensions following the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad, after directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The decision of BCCI to exclude Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the upcoming IPL, scheduled to begin on 26 March, has deeply hurt, saddened, and angered the people of Bangladesh. Under these circumstances, Bangladesh’s I&B Ministry…
— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2026
The order, passed on Monday afternoon, will result in fans in Bangladesh being unable to watch IPL and other related programmes on television or through official streaming platforms.
A former BCCI official reacted, saying that the move by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was doing what’s in their authority and that India or the IPL will not be affected by their decision.
“For every action, there is a reaction. The Bangladesh Cricket Board is merely doing what it believes is within its authority. “Takleef hui hai, so obviously there will be a reaction,” the official said.
The situation has escalated against the backdrop of rising diplomatic and social tensions between the two countries. Recent incidents of communal violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh have drawn strong reactions, prompting the Indian government to adopt a firmer stance on the matter.
Amid these developments, the BCCI asked the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned KKR franchise to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. The left-arm pacer had been bought for ₹9.20 crore, making him the most expensive Bangladeshi player in IPL history.
In response to the ongoing situation, the Bangladesh government has taken further steps at the administrative level. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reached out to the International Cricket Council (ICC), requesting the relocation of Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.
According to multiple reports, the ICC is now considering a revised schedule that would see Bangladesh play all of its Group C matches in Sri Lanka, subject to final approval.