India may give Bangladesh cricket Pakistan-like treatment after Mustafizur release: Report
Amid mounting political tensions, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly decided to put the Indian team’s tour of Bangladesh on hold, raising the possibility that Bangladesh cricket could receive Pakistan-like treatment in terms of bilateral engagements. This comes after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced it would host India for a three-match ODI and T20I series in September 2026.
BCCI seeks government approval before final decision
According to a report in The Indian Express, the BCCI will seek government approval before taking a final call on the Indian team’s tour to Bangladesh—a move that mirrors the longstanding policy where India does not tour Pakistan due to cross-border tensions.
“We didn’t travel to Bangladesh last year too. BCB had issued their international calendar, but it looks doubtful, as we need Indian government approval to play in any other country. As far as the T20I World Cup is concerned, Bangladesh will play as per the scheduled games in India,” a top BCCI official was quoted as saying.
The comment suggests that while Bangladesh will participate in the T20 World Cup matches scheduled in India starting February 7, bilateral cricket between the two nations remains uncertain.
KKR releases Mustafizur Rahman following BCCI directive
On Saturday, the BCCI asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for IPL 2026—a request with which the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise agreed to comply.
Pressure had been mounting on the BCCI and KKR following the recent killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, which sparked widespread outrage in India. KKR co-owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was also targeted by various groups over the inclusion of Mustafizur in the squad.
KKR had roped in Mustafizur for a whopping Rs 9.20 crore at the IPL mini-auction, making the left-arm pacer the only player from Bangladesh to be picked. Following the BCCI’s directive, KKR confirmed the release of the 30-year-old in a media statement:
“Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI/IPL as the regulator of IPL has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India,” KKR said.
Parallels with Pakistan: A long-standing policy
This development mirrors the long-standing policy where Pakistani players are excluded from the IPL due to cross-border tensions. India has also not toured Pakistan for a bilateral series since 2006 for similar reasons, and the two nations only meet in multi-nation tournaments like the ICC World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Champions Trophy.
With the BCCI now reportedly putting Bangladesh tours on hold and requiring government clearance for bilateral cricket, there are growing concerns that Bangladesh could receive similar treatment in the coming years if political tensions continue to escalate.
Bangladesh to play T20 World Cup matches in India
Despite the uncertainty surrounding bilateral cricket, the report confirmed that Bangladesh will play their scheduled T20 World Cup matches in India as per the tournament fixtures. The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, begins on February 7, with Bangladesh placed in Group B alongside Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman.