It’s official: Bangladesh ban IPL. Yep, you read that right. For the first time ever, cricket fans in Bangladesh won’t be able to catch the Indian Premier League from home. The decision came after a heated row over Mustafizur Rahman, who was set to play for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the upcoming season. Politics ended up shaping the cricket pitch.
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Official Statement from Dhaka
Things got messy fast. International tensions spilled onto the field when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed KKR to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. The fallout wasn’t just about one player—Bangladesh even requested that their T20 World Cup matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka, citing safety concerns. Amid all this, the government issued the unprecedented move: IPL broadcast in Bangladesh is now suspended indefinitely. The drama has made the cricketing community more anxious than a final over with five runs to win.
BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT HAS SUSPENDED IPL BROADCAST IN THE COUNTRY. [Devendra Pandey] pic.twitter.com/K1RsRQv8EP
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 5, 2026
Bangladesh didn’t hold back. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said:
“With reference to the above subject, it is hereby informed that it has come to notice that the Board of Control for Cricket in India has directed the exclusion of Bangladeshi cricketer Mr Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the Indian Premier League (IPL), scheduled to commence on March 26, 2026. No reasonable or justified explanation for such a decision by the Indian cricket board is known, and this decision has caused pain, distress and anger among the people of Bangladesh. Under these circumstances, until further notice, a request is made as per instructions to stop the broadcast/telecast of all matches and programmes of the Indian Premier League (IPL).”
This means Bangladesh ban IPL isn’t just a headline—it’s reality, affecting all TV channels and streaming platforms. Fans will have to wait to see if they ever get to watch IPL broadcast in Bangladesh again.
South Asian Cricket Tensions
It’s not just Bangladesh. India and Pakistan have long had an unspoken ban on players from each other’s country. Now, with Bangladesh ban IPL and the fallout over Mustafizur Rahman, cricket in South Asia feels a lot more tense. If tensions continue, Bangladesh may adopt similar restrictions, shaping a very different future for IPL broadcast in Bangladesh and international tournaments alike.
🚨BREAKING: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh has instructed all broadcasters in the country to stop airing the Indian Premier League
The direction was issued after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2026… pic.twitter.com/eqHBk1WtH0
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) January 5, 2026
For cricket lovers, it’s a strange time. No IPL broadcast in Bangladesh, no cheering for KKR, and lots of online debates over whether the ban was fair. Meanwhile, Mustafizur Rahman remains a national hero, and the situation has sparked endless discussions on how politics and cricket collide. The cricketing world won’t forget the day Bangladesh ban IPL changed the way fans could watch the sport.
