Bangladesh likely to lift IPL 2026 broadcast ban as minister wants to develop a friendly relationship with India

A senior minister in Bangladesh has indicated that the country could reconsider its ban on broadcasting the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has been in place since January.

Why did Bangladesh propose to ban IPL 2026?

The ban was put in place after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the 2026 season, without giving any clear reason. Notably, Mustafizur had been picked by KKR for a huge ₹9.20 crore in the IPL 2026 mini auction.

After KKR released Mustafizur, Bangladesh responded by banning the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the country. The situation became more serious later, when Bangladesh also refused to play their matches in India for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

This demand came after the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule for the tournament, which is being hosted by India and Sri Lanka. However, the ICC was not able to accept Bangladesh’s request. As a result, Bangladesh was eventually replaced by Scotland for the tournament.

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BCB state minister for youth and sports, Aminul Haque on development

Speaking on Sunday, Bangladesh’s state minister for youth and sports, Aminul Haque, said a decision hasn’t been made yet. He added that discussions with the Bangladesh Cricket Board will take place after the Eid holidays, and only then will the government decide the next step.

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“We have not thought about it as yet. After the vacation ends, we will have to discuss it with the cricket board and try to figure out the actual picture and after knowing everything, we will take a decision," Haque said, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

“We want to develop a friendly relationship (with India), and there shouldn’t be any other issue. Sports shouldn’t be politicised. We have to know why it (IPL) was closed (broadcasting in Bangladesh), and later we can make a decision," he added.

The IPL 2026 is scheduled to start on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing the tournament opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.