The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has dismissed reports by Indian media suggesting that the International Cricket Council (ICC) issued an ultimatum requiring Bangladesh to play the upcoming T20 World Cup matches in India. In a press release issued on Wednesday, the BCB stated that the ICC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring Bangladesh’s full and uninterrupted participation in the tournament and expressed willingness to work closely with the board to address its concerns.

The BCB clarified that claims of receiving an ultimatum from the ICC were completely baseless and fabricated. It emphasized that the content of the ICC’s communication bore no resemblance to such reports. The board also reiterated that the ICC welcomed BCB’s input in the tournament’s detailed security planning and would give due consideration to its views.

According to the statement, the BCB remains firm in prioritizing the safety and security of the national team and players. It plans to continue constructive discussions with the ICC and relevant authorities to ensure a satisfactory and practical resolution for Bangladesh’s smooth participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reaffirmed its decision not to send the national team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing concerns over national dignity and player safety. The board stated that even if the International Cricket Council (ICC) guarantees maximum security, Bangladesh will not participate in matches held in India. BCB directors confirmed that they have sent two letters to the ICC requesting relocation of Bangladesh’s matches to co-host Sri Lanka but have yet to receive any response.

The dispute follows the removal of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League after threats from extremist political groups in India. The BCB considers this incident an insult to Bangladesh’s national pride and questions India’s ability to ensure safety for the entire team, journalists, and supporters. The board believes the ICC is reconsidering its plans, as no official decision has been communicated yet.

If the ICC declines to move the matches, the BCB is prepared to boycott the tournament, despite potential financial losses and forfeiture of points. The board expects the ICC to decide soon on venue adjustments and scheduling challenges involving other teams.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly told the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that the team must play its T20 World Cup matches in India or risk losing points. The issue arose after Bangladesh expressed unwillingness to travel to India citing security concerns. The matter was discussed in a virtual meeting between ICC and BCB on Tuesday, where ICC clarified that relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India would not be possible due to security logistics.

According to the report, BCB had earlier written to ICC requesting that Bangladesh’s matches be moved from India. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, placed in Group C, is set to play its first three matches in Kolkata and the last one in Mumbai. However, BCB stated that it has not yet received any official or final decision from ICC or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The dispute follows a recent directive from the Indian board barring Mustafizur Rahman from playing for Kolkata Knight Riders over security issues, which prompted BCB’s initial letter to ICC.

Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has registered to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after being left out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Despite not being retained by Kolkata Knight Riders, his inclusion in the PSL was confirmed through official posts on the league’s Facebook and X pages, which announced his participation in the upcoming HBL PSL 11 season.

According to the report, Mustafizur’s team in the PSL has not yet been finalized, but it is expected that he will be picked through the players’ draft. The left-arm pacer previously played for Lahore Qalandars in the 2018 edition of the tournament. His move to the PSL follows reports that his IPL exclusion was linked to political reasons.

The confirmation from PSL organizers highlights Mustafizur’s continued demand in global franchise cricket, even after his omission from the IPL lineup.

Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. nearly decided to retire from football following his latest injury, according to his father and agent, Neymar Sr. In a recent interview on a YouTube channel, Neymar Sr. said his son was mentally devastated after suffering a meniscus injury that became public before the family could discuss it. He recalled visiting Neymar, who expressed that he could no longer endure the pain and uncertainty about surgery.

Neymar Sr. added that he encouraged his son to undergo surgery if it would help him recover, assuring full support. The next morning, Neymar resumed light training, regaining confidence and eventually returning to score again. Fans now hope he can return to the field by the end of this month and fight for a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.

Neymar, who has scored 79 goals in 128 appearances for Brazil, suffered ACL and meniscus injuries in October 2023. After leaving Saudi club Al Hilal for Santos, he underwent minor knee surgery on December 22 and continues his recovery to regain full fitness.

Indian media reports claim that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their Indian Premier League (IPL) squad, though the matter was never discussed in any official board meeting. According to The Indian Express, senior BCCI officials made the decision unilaterally, and even members of the IPL governing council were unaware until the news appeared in the media. Attempts to contact BCCI secretary Debajit Saikia for clarification were unsuccessful.

Saikia later confirmed that KKR had been instructed to release Mustafizur, who was signed for 9.2 crore rupees. The decision triggered strong reactions in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to send its team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing player safety concerns. Additionally, Bangladesh’s Information Ministry decided to suspend IPL broadcasts in the country.

The controversy continues to grow as questions remain about the decision-making process within BCCI and its implications for Bangladesh-India cricket relations.

Indian Premier League (IPL) sources have indicated that Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman is unlikely to receive any financial compensation after being dropped by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The franchise had purchased him for 9.2 crore rupees in the auction but released him following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) amid protests by Hindu nationalist groups. According to IPL insiders, the league’s insurance policy does not cover such situations, leaving Mustafizur without a clear path to payment.

An IPL-linked source told PTI that player salaries are insured only for injuries or on-field performance issues, which do not apply in this case. Therefore, KKR has no legal obligation to pay him. The source added that Mustafizur’s only option would be legal action under Indian law, though foreign players rarely pursue such cases, even through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The current political climate between India and Bangladesh is seen as another obstacle to any legal move, with sources suggesting that uncertainty in bilateral relations discourages players from taking such steps.

Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib said he will reconsider registering for next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) auction following Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad. Speaking to reporters after a Rajshahi Warriors practice session, Tanzim stated that he would discuss the matter with his agent and relevant parties before deciding whether to submit his name for the auction.

Tanzim emphasized that politics should be kept out of cricket, expressing uncertainty over why Mustafizur was dropped from KKR. He suggested that the decision might have political undertones but reiterated that cricket should remain free from such influences. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), reacting to the BCCI’s directive that led to Mustafizur’s exclusion, decided not to send the national team to India for the upcoming World Cup, citing player safety concerns.

Tanzim voiced support for the BCB’s stance, calling it the board’s duty to stand by its players and describing the decision as commendable.

Indian Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has sharply criticized his country’s authorities for the exclusion of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL), a move that has heightened tensions between India and Bangladesh. In a post on X, Tharoor said the embarrassing situation was self-inflicted, calling the decision to drop Mustafizur unnecessary and unreasonable.

Speaking to the Indian Express, Tharoor argued that Bangladesh should not be equated with Pakistan, noting that Bangladesh does not send terrorists across the border and that India’s diplomatic relationship with Bangladesh is fundamentally different. His remarks came after Kolkata Knight Riders removed Mustafizur from their squad following directives from the Indian cricket board.

Mustafizur had been bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for 92 million rupees in the 2026 IPL auction, the highest fee ever for a Bangladeshi player. The controversy arose after some Indian political groups and religious organizations questioned his participation, citing allegations of persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh has ordered all television channels in the country to suspend the broadcast of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches and related programs. The directive, issued on Monday, January 5, 2026, and signed by Assistant Secretary Firoz Khan, follows the exclusion of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders team. The ministry’s letter stated that the decision by the Indian cricket board to drop Rahman lacked a clear justification and had deeply hurt and angered the people of Bangladesh.

According to the official notice, the suspension will remain in effect until further instructions are issued. The ministry’s communication emphasized that the move was a response to widespread public sentiment over the perceived unfair treatment of the Bangladeshi player. The order was sent directly to top executives of television channels to ensure compliance.

The directive marks a rare government intervention in sports broadcasting, reflecting the sensitivity surrounding national representation in international cricket tournaments.

Real Madrid secured a commanding 5-1 victory over Real Betis at Santiago Bernabéu on the night of January 4, 2026, reducing the points gap with Barcelona from seven to four. Joan Garcia scored a hat-trick, while Raúl Asensio and Fran Garcia added one goal each. Playing without star forward Kylian Mbappé, Real took the lead in the 20th minute through Garcia’s header from a Rodrygo free-kick. The first half ended 1-0, and Real dominated the second half with four more goals.

Garcia doubled the lead early in the second half before Asensio made it 3-0 in the 56th minute. Betis pulled one back through Hernández at the 60-minute mark, but Garcia completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute with help from Franco Mastantuano. Francisco Garcia sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal. After this result, Barcelona lead the table with 49 points from 19 matches, while Real Madrid sit second with 45 points from the same number of games.

Bangladesh Football Federation President Tawfiq Awal has strongly criticized India’s decision to exclude Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). According to the report, Hindu nationalist groups had been protesting to remove Mustafizur, leading the Indian government to instruct the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to act. Following that directive, Kolkata Knight Riders dropped the player from their squad.

Awal expressed deep disappointment, saying that Mustafizur was selected based on merit but was removed due to political pressure. He urged Indian authorities and the BCCI to keep politics out of sports, calling the move an act of injustice and intolerance against a world-class athlete targeted for his nationality. Awal emphasized that sports should unite people rather than divide them and reminded that historically, games have helped end conflicts and foster understanding.

He concluded by expressing solidarity with Mustafizur, assuring that the entire nation stands by him and encouraging him to stay strong.

Bangladesh has announced a strong retaliatory move against India following the exclusion of cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Acting under the directive of the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) declared that the national team will not travel to India for the upcoming World Cup. The government expressed deep concern over player safety, questioning how India could ensure the security of an entire team when it failed to protect one player. The decision has been formally communicated to the International Cricket Council (ICC), and a suspension of IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh is under consideration.

Sports adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul condemned India’s move as a surrender to extremist groups, while Information Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said silence was no longer an option. The Foreign Ministry described the response as part of a necessary diplomatic measure. A senior Bangladeshi diplomat criticized India for politicizing minority issues, saying such actions have worsened bilateral relations and fueled hostility between the two nations.

The controversy began when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expelled Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, citing false allegations of minority persecution in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has withdrawn the no-objection certificate (NOC) previously granted to pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The decision follows the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) directive to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to exclude Mustafizur from their squad citing security concerns. A BCB source confirmed that the board will not issue any further NOC for Mustafizur in this IPL season and has already informed the player of the decision.

Earlier, BCB had granted Mustafizur permission to play the entire IPL season, except during Bangladesh’s One Day International series against New Zealand. KKR had acquired Mustafizur for a record 9.2 crore rupees in the latest IPL auction. However, after BCCI’s instruction to remove him, BCB decided to revoke the NOC and ruled out issuing any new clearance for this tournament.

The development has also sparked questions about whether Bangladesh will travel to India for the upcoming World Cup, as the issue originated from security-related concerns.

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad despite being signed earlier, following a directive reportedly influenced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision was justified on security grounds amid heightened political tensions between India and Bangladesh. The move has sparked debate on both sides of the border, linking it to the exile of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after resigning during anti-government protests last year.

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif expressed surprise at what he called India’s double standards, noting that while Hasina remains in India, Mustafizur has been denied participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The controversy follows protests by Hindu nationalist groups in India over alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, which led to calls for excluding Bangladeshi players from the IPL. Mustafizur, who was sold for 92 million rupees, was subsequently dropped, and KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan was labeled “traitor” by critics.

In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not send its team to the upcoming World Cup in India, citing security concerns and requesting a venue change.