Government's reaction to Mustafizur’s IPL exclusion robust and appropriate: Adviser

Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed has described interim government's reaction to the removal of cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) as “robust” and “appropriate”. However, he downplayed the likelihood of any lasting impact on relations with India.

Salehuddin made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase amid repeated questions over Bangladesh’s decision to halt all IPL broadcasts and its stance against travelling to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

The advisor said Bangladesh had not initiated the dispute and had merely responded to the sudden exclusion of a player widely regarded as one of the country’s leading cricketers.

"In simple terms, this is not right. He is a good player. It’s not as if he was picked gratuitously — he is among the best players. Everyone acknowledges that. They acknowledge it too.

“Therefore, Bangladesh's response [to his subsequent exclusion] is completely robust and appropriate.”

He compared the situation to the principle of action and reaction, saying a response was inevitable once the decision to drop the player had been taken.

On Monday, Bangladesh’s information ministry ordered broadcasters to halt all IPL matches and related programmes until further notice.

The controversy follows the decision by the Indian cricket board to instruct the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur. The franchise later confirmed it had dropped the Bangladeshi pacer, whom it had signed for 92 million rupees.

In recent days, Indian media reports had suggested growing anger in India over violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, alongside debate over whether Bangladeshi players should continue to participate in the IPL.