Bangladesh's response to Mustafizur’s IPL exclusion ‘robust and appropriate’, says advisor

Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed has described Bangladesh's response to the removal of cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) as “robust” and “appropriate”. However, he downplayed the likelihood of any lasting impact on relations with India.

Salehuddin made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase amid repeated questions over Bangladesh’s decision to halt all IPL broadcasts and its stance against travelling to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, reports bdnews24.com.

The advisor said Bangladesh had not initiated the dispute and had merely responded to the sudden exclusion of a player widely regarded as one of the country’s leading cricketers.

"In simple terms, this is not right. He is a good player. It’s not as if he was picked gratuitously — he is among the best players. Everyone acknowledges that. They acknowledge it too.

“Therefore, Bangladesh's response [to his subsequent exclusion] is completely robust and appropriate.”

He compared the situation to the principle of action and reaction, saying a response was inevitable once the decision to drop the player had been taken.

On Monday, Bangladesh’s information ministry ordered broadcasters to halt all IPL matches and related programmes until further notice.

The controversy follows the decision by the Indian cricket board to instruct the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur. The franchise later confirmed it had dropped the Bangladeshi pacer, whom it had signed for 92 million rupees.

In recent days, Indian media reports have suggested growing anger in India over violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, alongside debate over whether Bangladeshi players should continue to participate in the IPL.

The move prompted strong backlash in Dhaka. Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul said he did not consider it safe for the national team to travel to India for the T20 World Cup next month.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has since written to the International Cricket Council, citing security concerns and requesting that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be moved outside India. The ICC has not yet responded.

Salehuddin said he did not believe the dispute would affect economic or trade relations between the two countries, adding that Bangladesh continued to make decisions on a rational basis.

He also cautioned against further politicising the issue, saying the situation was unfortunate for both sides and not in either country’s interest.

Energy Advisor Fouzul Kabir Khan echoed the view, saying the suspension of IPL broadcasts and the request to move World Cup matches were appropriate responses. He expressed hope that tensions would ease and that sporting, economic and trade ties between the two neighbours would continue.