The relationship between the Indian and Bangladeshi cricket boards has continued to worsen ever since eliminating Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released the Bangladeshi star pacer from the squad. This decision was taken following the instructions provided by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, this move didn’t go well with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Meanwhile, the latest reports claim that BCCI is planning to reverse its decision to bring Mustafizur back into the IPL 2026. Let’s find out how the BCB president, Aminul Islam Bulbul, reacted to the latest news.
‘No Truth to the News’: BCB President
Aminul Islam, during his media interaction with Ajker Patrika, denied the speculations about Mustafizur Rahman’s return to the league’s season 19, who was acquired for INR 9.20 crore:
“No! Regarding Mustafizur’s IPL comeback, I have neither confirmed in writing nor had a verbal discussion with BCCI. So far, there is a lack of truth to the current news,” the BCB president said.
‘Critical Situation’: Former Bangladesh Captain
Tamim Iqbal, the former captain of the Bangladesh men’s team, cautioned BCB not to get carried away by the public reaction.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 approaching, the 36-year-old suggested that the national cricket board should make a wise decision. Here is what Tamim said:
“See! The current situation is very critical. It would be very challenging to make sudden comments at this moment. Currently, it is essential to remember that several issues can be resolved through discussions if everyone comes together.
Most importantly, one should consider Bangladesh’s current rankings in men’s international cricket. The decisions should be made accordingly, considering Bangladesh cricket’s future,” the former left-handed batter said.
IND vs BAN: Big Controversy After Mustafizur’s IPL Release
Soon after releasing Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board was clear with its stance not to play any of the domestic or international matches on Indian soil.
In other words, BCB refrained from allowing its players to travel to India for the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2026, commencing on February 07.
Citing high levels of security concerns, an additional request was made to the International Cricket Council (ICC). BCB demanded to shift all matches of Bangladesh be shifted to the tournament’s co-hosting nation, Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Mustafizur has moved on from his IPL 2026 snub. He registered himself for the player auction of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11.
‘ICC Didn’t Realize the Seriousness of the Issue’: Bangladesh Sports Advisor
Asif Nazrul, the sports ministry adviser in Bangladesh, commented that the ICC didn’t realize the seriousness of the situation to shift the matches outside India. His remarks came amidst the increasing anti-Indian feeling across the nation:
“Certainly! After carefully reviewing ICC’s letter, it becomes clear that they haven’t fully realized the seriousness of the security issues that Bangladeshi cricketers could face in India.
It’s not just about the matter of personal safety, but also the nation’s pride is at stake. We cannot take the national humiliation lightly. We will consider it as a security concern.
BCCI declared that the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) couldn’t provide security to its players and decided to leave him (referring to Mustafizur Rahman) from the team. So, it is a tactical acknowledgement. This clarifies that the players from our nation are not at all safe to play cricket in India,” Nazrul said.
Latest Update on BCB’s Request to Relocate Matches
Bangladesh was earlier scheduled to play four league stage matches in India— Kolkata (3 games) and Mumbai (1 game). The ICC, however, hasn’t so far provided any clarity about relocating the matches.
To explain in simpler terms, the global governing body has yet to confirm if Bangladesh’s fixtures will be shifted from Kolkata and Mumbai to Colombo (in Sri Lanka).
BCB confidently declared that ICC is currently working to come up with alternative plans after reviewing their request about Bangladesh players’ safety concerns in India.
On Thursday (January 08, 2026), BCB sent another letter to ICC explaining the safety shortcomings if their players travelled to India for the T20 World Cup. Once again, the request was made to relocate the matches to Sri Lanka.
Also Read: Bangladesh Declines to Play T20 World Cup 2026 Matches in India
Conclusion
The deteriorating sporting and political relationship between India and Bangladesh further escalates the uncertainty and rumors about Mustafizur Rahman’s future IPL participation. Notably, he was the only Bangladeshi player to be acquired during the mini-auction in December 2025.
Bangladesh’s involvement in the upcoming 10th edition of the T20 World Cup matches in India remains an unsolved puzzle. Finally, the focus shifts towards the ICC’s next move — whether Bangladesh would be forced to play all its matches in India or will the fixtures would be relocated to Sri Lanka.
