Bangladesh Cricket Board President Denies Reports Of BCCI Offering IPL Return To Mustafizur Rahman Amid Strained Cricket Ties

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul has set the record straight, denying the reports of an offer from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allowing pacer Mustafizur Rahman to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

The controversy erupted from the BCCI's earlier decision to ask Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur from their squad, citing "recent developments" amidst protests against targeted killings of Hindus in Bangladesh.

The decision to release Mustafizur from the IPL sparked outrage in Bangladesh, straining relations between the two cricketing nations so far that the BCB wrote letters to the International Cricket Council (ICC), citing safety concerns about travelling to India for the T20 World Cup. In the letter, BCB requested ICC to shift their match venues from India to Sri Lanka.

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As tensions escalate further, reports appeared indicating the BCCI offered Mustafizur a chance to return to the IPL. However, BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul denied these reports, keeping Bangladesh's stance firm on the issue.

“I have not had any written or verbal discussions (with the BCCI) regarding Mustafiz’s (return to the IPL). I have not spoken to anyone from my board about this. There is no truth to this news,” Bulbul was quoted as saying by Ajker newspaper.

Bangladesh's T20 World Cup fixtures are scheduled to be played in India, with three matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai, starting February 7.

Outlining specific security concerns and emphasising that they won't compromise on national dignity and player safety, BCB have sent a second letter to the ICC.

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“Following discussions with sports ministry advisor Asif Nazrul, the BCB has once again sent a communication to the ICC. The ICC wanted to know areas of concern about security, and BCB has cited them," a source close to the board told PTI.

However, the ICC has acknowledged the concerns but hasn't made any official announcement about shifting the match venues.