Bangladesh lifts IPL broadcast ban hours before tournament opener
The Indian Premier League kicked off in Bengaluru on Saturday evening, and for the first time in months, fans in Bangladesh were able to watch it. Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan confirmed on March 28 that the government had lifted its blanket ban on IPL broadcasts, allowing Star Sports and local channels such as T Sports and GTV to carry the tournament.
How the ban started
The previous interim administration pulled the plug on IPL coverage after the BCCI directed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from his contract ahead of IPL 2026. That decision came against a backdrop of strained relations between the two countries following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Bangladesh's government at the time viewed the release as politically motivated, and the fallout spiralled quickly.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board then asked the ICC to move their 2026 T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. When the ICC turned down the request, Bangladesh pulled out of the tournament entirely. Scotland replaced them. The broadcast ban followed shortly after, cutting off millions of Bangladeshi cricket fans from one of the sport's biggest annual events.
A new government, a different approach
Swapan struck a conciliatory tone on Saturday. He said the current government has no intention of mixing politics with sport and would evaluate broadcast applications on their commercial merits. Cable operators across Bangladesh confirmed that previous restrictions no longer apply, and international sports networks are free to carry the IPL feed.
The two boards have also made progress behind the scenes. A bilateral series between Bangladesh and India, originally scheduled to clash with the IPL, has been pushed back to September 2026. That means Bangladeshi players competing in the IPL, including Mustafizur himself (who joined the PSL after his KKR release), can complete their franchise commitments without national duty conflicts.
Opening night in Bengaluru
The timing could hardly be more fitting. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru hosted Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Saturday's opener, with both sides missing key pace bowlers. RCB are without Josh Hazlewood and Yash Dayal, while SRH captain Pat Cummins sat out with a lumbar stress injury, handing the captaincy to Ishan Kishan. RCB players wore black armbands to honour 11 fans who died in a stampede at the venue last year, with 11 seats left permanently empty as a tribute.
For Bangladeshi fans tuning in for the first time this season, the wait is finally over. Whether the diplomatic goodwill lasts beyond the IPL remains to be seen, but for now, cricket has won its small battle with politics.
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