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.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the government will decide on whether to suspend the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Bangladesh after reviewing the legal basis and procedural aspects. She made the remarks on Sunday, January 4, during a meeting with members of the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

The discussion arose after Bangladesh’s cricketer Mustafizur Rahman was excluded from the IPL. Following this, the law adviser proposed halting the IPL broadcast in Bangladesh. Addressing the issue, Rizwana Hasan commented that it would have been better if the game could remain within the realm of sports, but unfortunately, politics had been brought into it.

The government’s decision will depend on the outcome of the legal and procedural review, and no final decision has yet been announced.

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been removed from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the upcoming Indian Premier League following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The franchise confirmed the decision in a press release, stating that it acted on BCCI’s instructions. According to the report, the Indian government ordered the cricket board to exclude Mustafizur, allegedly to appease hardline Hindu nationalist groups that had opposed his inclusion.

The controversy has sparked widespread criticism in Bangladesh and beyond, with many fans condemning the move as politically motivated. BCCI Secretary Debajit Saikia told Indian media that the directive came from the government. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has yet to issue an official response, saying it has not received formal communication from BCCI. Meanwhile, Hindu nationalist leaders in India have publicly praised the decision, framing it as a victory for Hindu sentiment.

The incident has raised questions about the politicization of cricket and the safety of Bangladeshi players ahead of the T20 World Cup scheduled in India next month.

Police in India-administered Kashmir have placed cricketer Furkanul Haq under surveillance after a video showing him playing with a Palestinian flag sticker on his helmet went viral on social media. Authorities summoned him for questioning on Friday and initiated a 14-day preliminary inquiry to verify the facts, his intent, and any possible links. Police said the action was taken considering the sensitivity of the issue and its potential impact on public order. Under Indian law, such an inquiry can be launched with approval from a deputy superintendent for offenses punishable by three to seven years in prison.

The incident occurred during a Jammu and Kashmir Champions League match in Muthi, Jammu, where Haq represented JK Eleven Kings against Jammu Trail Blazers. Reports said he was asked to leave the field after opposing players objected to the helmet sticker. The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association clarified that the matter involved local players and had no connection with the organization.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti expressed support for Palestine on social media following the incident.

Law and Sports Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has strongly condemned the Indian Cricket Board’s decision to exclude Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a Facebook post published on Saturday night, he called the move unjustified and urged the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to formally seek an explanation from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Nazrul questioned the safety of Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India if a single Bangladeshi player was barred from playing there.

He further instructed the BCB to request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be relocated from India to Sri Lanka. In the same post, Nazrul criticized India’s decision in strong terms and appealed to the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to suspend IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh. He stated that Bangladesh would not tolerate any insult to its cricket or players.

The post reflects growing discontent over Mustafizur’s exclusion and calls for a firm national response through diplomatic and broadcasting measures.

England’s batting lineup, which struggled in the first three Tests of the ongoing Ashes series, showed renewed form in the fourth match and carried that momentum into the final Test in Sydney. At the time of reporting, Joe Root and Harry Brook were guiding England toward a strong total, remaining unbeaten with scores of 72 and 78 respectively. England reached 211 for 3 in 45 overs before rain interrupted play at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Earlier, England’s top order faltered again as Zak Crawley (16), Ben Duckett (27), and Jacob Bethell (10) failed to build substantial innings against Australia’s pace attack. Root and Brook then steadied the innings with composed yet aggressive batting, both reaching half-centuries and moving toward centuries.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser, and Scott Boland each claimed one wicket. The match situation suggests England are in a strong position to post a large first-innings total once play resumes.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, naming Liton Das as captain and Saif Hasan as vice-captain. The announcement was made on Sunday through an official press release. The squad includes regular players who have been part of the T20 setup in recent months, with no major surprises in selection.

Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Ripon Mondol, who had been in discussion for their recent performances, were not included in the final squad. Lower middle-order batter Zakir Ali Anik was also left out due to poor form. The team includes Nurul Hasan Sohan and Mohammad Saifuddin among others. Bangladesh will begin their World Cup campaign against the West Indies on February 7, followed by matches against Italy, England, and Nepal.

The first three group-stage matches are scheduled to be held in Kolkata and the final one in Mumbai. However, the BCB plans to send a letter to the ICC requesting that the matches not be held in India due to the current political situation.

India’s cricket board (BCCI) has expelled Bangladesh’s only player in the current IPL season, Mustafizur Rahman, following what it described as recent events linked to alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. The decision came just two days after Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar visited Dhaka to pay respects to Khaleda Zia and delivered a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoting bilateral ties. Officials and analysts in Dhaka said the expulsion shows India’s hostile stance toward Bangladesh remains unchanged.

According to the report, BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Mustafizur from their squad, a move that followed pressure from extremist Hindu groups and political figures across India. Several leaders from the BJP, Congress, and Shiv Sena publicly demanded his removal, while actor Shah Rukh Khan, KKR’s owner, faced threats for including a Bangladeshi player. The All India Imam Organization also criticized Khan, echoing claims of minority persecution in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi diplomats and analysts described the decision as evidence of India’s deep-seated antagonism toward a Muslim-majority neighbor. They argued that despite official rhetoric of friendship, Delhi’s actions reveal enduring mistrust and political manipulation in bilateral relations.

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Aminul Haque has claimed that pacer Mustafizur Rahman was a victim of a religiously motivated conspiracy after being dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The franchise reportedly acted on a special directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), following protests by hardline Hindu groups demanding Mustafizur’s removal. The Bangladesh star had been signed by KKR for 92 million rupees, the highest price ever for a Bangladeshi player in the IPL.

Aminul expressed anger over the decision and urged the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to investigate whether any group was involved in creating a religious controversy. He warned that such incidents could strain Bangladesh-India relations and voiced concern about the safety of Bangladeshi players during the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Aminul called on both the BCB and the Bangladesh government to address the issue through dialogue and ensure player security.

He further stated that although Mustafizur might face financial loss, his national respect would remain intact, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the matter.