DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh has banned broadcasts of the Indian Premier League after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman pulled out of cricket’s largest T20 league on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement on Monday that the decision was taken “in public interest” and that the BCCI did not give a reason for excluding Mustafizul, saying the move had “brought suffering to the people of Bangladesh”.
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This is the first time that Bangladesh has banned the broadcast of the IPL since its inception in 2008.
Kolkata Knight Riders, who purchased Mustafizur in the IPL auction, released the left-arm fast bowler on Saturday on the instructions of BCCI.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board said in a statement on Sunday that “after a comprehensive assessment of the current situation and growing concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh team in India, it has been decided not to send a cricket team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup”.
The BCB said it had also considered the government’s advice “as the tournament governing body to consider shifting all matches in Bangladesh to venues outside India” before approaching the ICC.
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The World Cup will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Bangladesh will play three group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.
Pakistan has planned to play all group matches and other games in Sri Lanka if it advances, as political tensions with India last year brought the two countries to the brink of war.
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AP Cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
