IPL broadcast banned in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has instructed all media outlets to halt the broadcast and coverage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) until further notice, following the exclusion of national star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad.

In a letter sent on Monday (January 5), the ministry cited the IPL’s scheduled start on March 26 and expressed concern over the decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to drop Mustafizur without any clear justification. The letter noted that the move has caused disappointment and anger among the Bangladeshi public.

“Until further instructions, all IPL matches and related programmes must not be broadcast or aired,” the ministry directed.

Mustafizur Rahman was originally slated to play for KKR in the upcoming season. His exclusion on January 3 under BCCI’s directive has sparked widespread reaction in Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s decision to skip the upcoming T20 World Cup in India.