BCCI’s Mustafizur call sparks India–Bangladesh cricket row as BCB seeks to move T20 World Cup matches, halt IPL broadcast

The Board of Control for Cricket India’s (BCCI) decision to remove Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) has opened Pandora’s box, with Bangladesh now wanting to play their T20 World Cup 2026 matches outside India and stop the broadcast of IPL in the country. Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 9.2 crore in the IPL 2026 auction, was released by the team on Saturday after instructions from the BCCI.

While speaking to the media, BCCI secretary Devjit Saikia said that KKR has been asked to release Mustafizur Rahman due to the “recent developments,” most likely referring to the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

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“Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh from their squad and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” Saikia told ANI.

Bangladesh wants T20 World Cup matches out of India

BCCI’s decision, however, did not go down well with the wounded Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which held an emergency meeting of board directors on Saturday evening via Zoom. During the meeting, it was decided that BCB will ask the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move its T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India.

Bangladesh will play three T20 World Cup matches in Kolkata from 7 February 2026, and their last group match is scheduled for 17 February at Mumbai.

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“We have three matches of the T20 World Cup in Kolkata, so we will write to the ICC regarding what has happened today,” A BCB official told ESPN.

Another BCB official has informed Cricbuzz that they will be seeking clarity from ICC over security arrangements for players, fans, sponsors and media personnel in India during the T20 World Cup.

“We are sending letter to ICC putting three clauses into it. Firstly we would like to know from them about Mustafizur (exclusion from IPL) and secondly what is the security plan for us in the World Cup. More so because not only players will travel to India but along with them media, fans and sponsors would also travel there to see the World Cup. Those who will go there, what will be their security status,” a BCB official told Cricbuzz.

He added that BCB will also approach BCCI about why Rahman was removed from IPL. “We are also sending an email to BCCI to know the exact picture why Mustafizur was excluded,” the official added.

No IPL broadcast in Bangladesh

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said on Facebook that the Bangladesh cricket team is not safe in India, and their T20 World Cup matches should be played in Sri Lanka.

“As the adviser in charge of the Sports Ministry, I asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board to explain the entire matter to ICC in written. The board should inform that where a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to play in the World Cup,” Asif wrote.

“I have also instructed the board to request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches should be held in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Nazrul added that he has asked the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to stop the broadcast of IPL in Bangladesh.

“I have requested the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to stop broadcasting of IPL tournament in Bangladesh. We will not accept any insult to Bangladeshi cricket, cricketers and Bangladesh under any circumstances. The days of slavery are over.”

India are also scheduled to tour Bangladesh for white-ball games in September 2026, and it’s quite possible that the ODI and T20I seris are cancelled.