Political pressure led the BCCI to instruct KKR to release Mustafizur (confirmed by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia), citing “recent developments.” SRK faced widespread “traitor” slurs, boycott calls, and questions about his loyalty as a Muslim celebrity owning an IPL team. Defenders (e.g., Congress leaders) argued the targeting was communal, noting SRK doesn’t single-handedly select players and that similar logic isn’t applied to other franchises or Pakistan players.
Shortly thereafter, the Board of Control for Cricket in India conveyed security and “prevailing circumstances” concerns to KKR. The franchise complied and released Mustafizur without public dispute.
Bangladesh’s response was swift:
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The interim government banned all IPL broadcasts and promotions inside Bangladesh.
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The Bangladesh Cricket Board revoked Mustafizur’s No-Objection Certificate (NOC).
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Senior BCB officials demanded that Bangladesh’s 2026 T20 World Cup matches be moved out of India, citing player safety.
This marked the first time in IPL history that a sovereign state imposed a blanket broadcast ban over a cricketing dispute.
Why This Is Not “Just Another Cricket Dispute”
From a commercial standpoint, Bangladesh contributes under USD 10 million annually to IPL broadcasting revenue—significant, but not decisive. The real damage lies elsewhere.
1. Cricket as Political Signaling
The IPL is no longer merely a domestic league; it is a soft-power instrument. A broadcast ban is not an economic weapon—it is a diplomatic one.
