Dhaka: The controversy between Bangladesh and India over the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026 continues to escalate. Following this, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested that its T20 World Cup 2026 matches be moved out of India citing player safety concerns. The International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected this request, leading to further tension between the boards.
In the midst of this dispute, Syed Ashraful Haque, former Secretary of BCB and former CEO of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), has issued a warning to his own board while supporting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Haque highlighted the practical difficulties of rescheduling matches less than a month before the tournament and cautioned that Bangladesh risks losing its share of World Cup revenue and entering a direct conflict with the BCCI if it refuses to travel to India.
“India Will Provide Security Like a Head of State”
Haque told the Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Star, “I am confident that the Indian government will provide head-of-state level security for the Bangladesh team. Once that assurance is given, the decision to tour or not will be entirely ours. But refusing to tour is not without consequences.”
Financial Implications of Missing the World Cup
Haque also explained the financial stakes for Bangladesh. ICC guarantees a minimum participation fee of $300,000 (approximately ₹2.7 crore) to each team, irrespective of whether they play one match or ten. Teams finishing between 5th and 12th place receive $450,000 (around ₹4 crore). In addition, each member nation receives a share of profits from ticket sales, sponsorships, and broadcast revenue after deducting expenses. Refusing to participate would mean forfeiting this guaranteed revenue and potential additional earnings, in addition to straining relations with BCCI.
The Root of the Dispute
The controversy stems from ongoing violence against the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh. In response, Bangladesh opposed Mustafizur Rahman’s participation in IPL 2026, where KKR had acquired him for ₹9.2 crore. Following pressure from Bangladesh, BCCI released Rahman from the league. The Bangladesh government reacted strongly, prompting BCB to request that their T20 World Cup matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka due to safety concerns. The ICC rejected this request on 7th January, reinforcing the original schedule.
The dispute has intensified to the point that Bangladesh has even banned the telecast of IPL 2026 within the country, signaling the depth of the ongoing tensions between cricket boards and governments.
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