Bangladesh’s interim government under Muhammad Yunus has banned all broadcasts of the Indian Premier League in the country, citing the exclusion of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2026 squad as ‘discriminatory.’
Mustafizur, who was acquired by KKR for ₹9.2 crore in the 2025 auction, was released on January 3, 2026, following BCCI instructions amid escalating political tensions between India and Bangladesh, and the continued hostility displayed against India by the caretaker government of Bangladesh and political entities supported by them.
#BREAKING: Yunus Interim Government of Bangladesh has issued notification banning all broadcasts and telecasts of the Indian Premier League (IPL) be in Bangladesh after KKR/IPL decision to drop Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad. pic.twitter.com/3uTkhgy2dh
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 5, 2026
The official notification, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, lists 27 TV channels and 8 online platforms prohibited from airing IPL content, reflecting heightened nationalist sentiments in Bangladesh.
On 3 January, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board had formally informed KKR of its decision to drop Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman and permitted the franchise to sign a replacement player if it chose to do so. KKR subsequently clarified that it had released Mustafizur Rahman from its squad.
