The Mustafizur Rahman controversy continues to keep getting bigger as Bangladesh has now accused BCCI of playing politics.
The Adviser for Information and Broadcasting in Bangladesh, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, has accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of playing politics by removing Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League, as she hinted on Sunday that the broadcast of IPL in the country could be halted. Stopping the broadcast of IPL 2026 was
one of the main demands of Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul, as he asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday to ensure that the national team’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches are played in Sri Lanka and not India.
Nazrul’s diktat came after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were forced to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman
on the BCCI’s instructions. BCCI secretary had hinted that the instruction was given due to the rise of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. The BCCI’s reasoning has enraged Bangladesh, as officials have claimed that action has been taken against the perpetrators who were involved in the recent lynchings of two Hindu men in Bangladesh.
‘People of Bangladesh also feel hurt’
While asking the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to stop broadcast of IPL tournament in Bangladesh, Nazrul had said that he “will not accept any insult to Bangladeshi cricket, cricketers and Bangladesh” and that the “days of slavery are over.”
Responding to Nazrul’s instructions, Bangladesh’s Adviser for Information and Broadcasting Rizwana Hasan on Sunday said that BCCI should have kept politics and sports separate, but as the cricketing body has failed to do so, she would be taking steps to stop the broadcast of IPL in the country.
“If we could have kept the game just as a game, it would have been very good. But unfortunately, politics has been brought into it,” Rizwana Hasan said.
Bangladesh Interim Govt Under Muhammad Yunus pledges action against India after Bangladesh Cricket Player Removed from IPL. Says, “We are hurt”.
Rizwana Hasan, I&B Advisor, Bangladesh Interim Govt’s Statement. pic.twitter.com/17TObQZ2G6
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 4, 2026
“Between any two countries, when there is political tension, cultural exchange and sports help to de-escalate. In this, exactly the opposite has happened.
“After a Bangladeshi player was confirmed to participate, it is being said—based on political reasoning, as we have seen in newspapers—that he will not be taken. In light of such a decision, the people of our country also feel hurt and have reacted to it.”
“In such a situation, we too have to take a position. We are reviewing the legal basis and verifying the process of that position. After this, we will take a step.”
Rizwana Hasan expressed displeasure at Mustafizur being removed from IPL on accusations of a rise in attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.
“…we cannot sit idle. The player has not been stopped due to playing reasons. The reasons that have been given are not acceptable.”
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