Bangladesh players face big sponsorship blow as SG ends deals
Bangladesh cricketers are set to suffer a significant financial setback as leading Indian sports manufacturer SG has reportedly decided not to continue its association with the country’s top players, amid escalating cricketing and diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring nations. The decision could leave several prominent Bangladesh players without bat sponsorship and trigger a broader exodus of Indian brands from Bangladesh cricket.
SG to end sponsorship deals with Bangladesh stars
India’s sports manufacturer SG currently sponsors Bangladesh’s top players, including captain Litton Das, Yasir Rabbi, and Mominul Haque. The players have not been officially informed about SG’s decision not to renew the contract, but their agents have hinted at the development.
“It looks like that is likely to be the case in the coming days,” one of the Bangladeshi cricketers was quoted as saying by www.telecomasia.net.
The decision comes amid the ongoing fallout from the Mustafizur Rahman controversy, which has strained relations between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
Wider impact feared across Bangladesh sports industry
SG’s boycott move could hurt the Bangladesh sports industry, as other manufacturers are also likely to follow suit, creating a domino effect that could leave more players scrambling for sponsorship deals.
“I think other manufacturers also might opt not to sponsor our cricketers,” a source involved in player sponsorships told www.telecomasia.net.
The financial implications could be substantial for Bangladesh cricketers, who rely heavily on equipment sponsorships to supplement their match fees and central contracts.
Mustafizur Rahman row triggers tensions
The turbulence between the two Asian nations started when the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh premier bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, following a directive from the BCCI. After the pacer’s release, the Bangladesh Cricket Board first refused to grant a no-objection certificate to Mustafizur for playing in the IPL.
The BCB also requested the ICC to shift its matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to start on 7 February, from India to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup fixtures in limbo
The BCB approached the ICC after holding an emergency meeting on 4 January, formally requesting that Bangladesh’s fixtures be moved to ensure the safety of players and officials.
While the ICC decision on shifting Bangladesh Cricket Team matches to Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup 2026 is still pending, the Asian team is currently slated to feature in Group C of the tournament. Bangladesh is scheduled to play matches against West Indies, Italy, and England in Kolkata on February 7, 9, and 14 respectively, before a final group fixture against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.
The ongoing diplomatic and cricketing tensions have created uncertainty not just for the players’ commercial interests but also for Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup as originally scheduled.