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Rohit Kumar

NEW DELHI, Mar 28: As the World’s biggest T20 cricket jamboree Indian Premier League (IPL) began with the inaugural match between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers’ Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday evening, Bangladesh with the change of the government is learned to have cleared the way for telecast of the matches in that country indicating willingness to move forward and repair relations within the international cricketing framework.

The move could also help repair their ties with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which deteriorated with the retrenchment of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team and may pave the way for the return of the Bangladeshi players in the cash-rich tournament next year.

However, an element of confusion was introduced later in the evening with a section of the Bangladesh media quoting information and broadcasting ministry to claim that the ban order issued by the previous government was “still in place” and a decision on permitting telecast of IPL matches in Bangladesh would be taken only after consulting the ministry of youth affairs and sports.

The report said the ministry has already sought opinions and advice from the Ministry of Youth and Sports in this regard. “Further steps would be taken based on the opinion of the Ministry of Youth and Sports,” the report said.

According to the earlier reports, the newly appointed Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan on Saturday confirmed that there would be no restrictions on broadcasting the tournament in the country. In a significant policy shift, Swapan said the government did not intend to mix politics with sports and would instead evaluate the matter from a commercial perspective.

He noted that broadcasters willing to air the IPL can approach the authorities, and their applications would be considered positively. The clarification comes in the backdrop of an earlier ban imposed by the previous interim administration, which had halted IPL telecasts in Bangladesh. The move had created uncertainty among broadcasters and cable operators ahead of the tournament.

“No one applied to us to telecast the IPL. We don’t want to mix politics with sport. We will look at it from a commercial perspective, and if any channel applies to telecast the IPL, we will consider it positively,” Swapan said.

Swapan also indicated that international sports networks, including Star Sports, are free to broadcast the IPL in Bangladesh if they choose to. He emphasized that the government would neither impose restrictions nor compel any broadcaster, underlining a more open approach to sports broadcasting rights. “We will not bar anyone from telecasting it. If Star Sports wants to telecast it, they can. If any of our channels want to telecast it, we will take it positively, but we will not force anything,” he added.

Earlier, Aminul Haque, the State Minister for Youth and Sports, had suggested that the authorities would revisit the issue and hold discussions with relevant stakeholders following the earlier ban. The latest remarks from the Information Minister now confirm that the government has effectively moved away from that restrictive stance.

The Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh has also backed the development, stating that there are no directives in place to prevent the telecast of IPL matches. Its office secretary, Rezaul Karim Lablu, said cable operators would not block any broadcast feed in the absence of official instructions. Lablu further pointed out that the directives issued under the previous administration led by Muhammad Yunus were no longer relevant, making it clear that operators were free to carry IPL broadcasts unless fresh orders are issued.

“If Star Sports telecasts the IPL in Bangladesh, they can do it because no one has asked us to stop it. Those directives of the interim government do not have any value. If this government asks us to stop it, we will do so, because the previous government’s directives are no longer in place,” Lablu said.

The ban was imposed by the interim regime after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to end Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s contract for IPL 2026, after some elements following the killing of Hindus in Bangladesh. The left-arm pacer had initially secured a lucrative deal with Kolkata Knight Riders, only to be released following directions issued by the BCCI.

That episode led to heightened tensions, which extended beyond franchise cricket. In the aftermath, Bangladesh took a strong position by halting IPL broadcasts within the country. The fallout also influenced international commitments, culminating in Bangladesh withdrawing from the T20 World Cup 2026 played in India and Sri Lanka.

However, after a change in government, things have calmed down. Recent interactions between officials from both nations appear to have eased tensions. Diplomatic exchanges and improved communication have contributed to a more cooperative atmosphere, reflected in Bangladesh’s latest move regarding the IPL. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also acknowledged the repercussions of its earlier decisions, particularly the withdrawal from a major ICC tournament. Officials have indicated a willingness to move forward and repair relations within the international cricketing framework.