Bangladesh Orders Halt of IPL Broadcast Following Mustafizur Rahman’s Exclusion

In response to the exclusion of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed broadcasters in Bangladesh to stop airing all IPL matches and related programs. The ministry issued letters to relevant media outlets on Monday regarding the matter.

The letter noted that the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) had removed Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the upcoming IPL season starting on March 26, without providing any clear justification. The ministry described this decision as deeply upsetting to the people of Bangladesh. Until further notice, the broadcast of all IPL content has been requested to be suspended.

This directive was anticipated, as legal and broadcasting advisors had previously suggested that action might be taken in response to Mustafizur’s exclusion. On Sunday, Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan told reporters that the legal framework was being reviewed to determine how the suspension could be implemented, emphasizing that remaining passive was not an option.

Mustafizur was originally scheduled to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in this year’s IPL, but on January 3, following instructions from the BCCI, he was dropped from the team. The decision sparked widespread reactions in Bangladesh and prompted the Bangladesh Cricket Board to announce that the national team will not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup.