Bangladesh lifts IPL broadcast ban as Star Sports likely to televise 2026 season
The statement made by Bangladesh’s information and broadcasting minister confirms what was being reported by various media outlets for the last few weeks regarding the lifting of the ban on the telecast of IPL in Bangladesh
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The nineteenth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be telecast in Bangladesh, the information and broadcasting minister Zahir Uddin Swapan of Bangladesh said.
The move comes after the newly formed government in the country came into power last month. Zahir Uddin Swapan said that they want to keep politics away from sports, and if any channels want to broadcast the tournament, they can apply for the same
"No one applied to us to telecast the IPL. We don't want to mix politics with sport. We will look at it from a commercial perspective, and if any channel applies to telecast the IPL, we will consider it positively," Swapon was quoted as saying by Deutsche Welle.
Why Bangladesh reversed its decision on IPL telecast
The statement made by Bangladesh’s information and broadcasting minister confirms what was being reported by various media outlets for the last few weeks regarding the lifting of the ban on the telecast of IPL in Bangladesh, which was imposed by the Muhammad Yunus-led government following a strained relationship between the two countries, including the release of Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad earlier this year.
"We will not bar anyone from telecasting it. If Star Sports wants to telecast it, they can. If any of our channels want to telecast it, we will take it positively, but we will not force anything." Swapon said when asked if Star Sports will telecast the 19th edition of the IPL.
Star Sports set to bring IPL 2026 action back to Bangladesh
The Cable Operators Association of Bangladesh’s secretary, Rezaul Karim Lablu, said that they haven’t received any directive from the government regarding the ban on IPL telecast, and if Star Sports wants to beam the matches, it can do so.
"If Star Sports telecast the IPL in Bangladesh, they can do it because no one has asked us to stop it," Lablu said.
See Also: Mustafizur Rahman breaks Shakib Al Hasan's T20I record during IND vs BAN Asia Cup 2025 Super 4 match
Lablu further said that with the new government in power, the old orders are of no value, and if the government asks them to televise IPL, they will do so.
"Those directives of the interim government do not have any value. If this government asks us to stop it, we will do so, because the previous government's directives are no longer in place." Lablu said.
The new edition of the Indian Premier League will take place from March 28 to May 31, with the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on the former champions Sunrisers Hyderabad on the opening day at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
RCB will look to continue the momentum that they have on their side and start the season on a winning note, while SRH will bank on its batting lineup to come good, which wasn’t the case in the previous season.
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