Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul has firmly denied reports suggesting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) offered fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman a return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
Speculation around Mustafizur’s IPL return surfaced following reports in the Bangladeshi media, which claimed that the BCCI had made the offer to ease tensions between the two cricket boards. Relations had soured after the BCCI requested Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release the Bangladesh pacer from their squad amid protests in India over targeted killings of Hindus in Bangladesh.
However, Bulbul categorically rejected the claims.
“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.
Following Mustafizur’s release from the IPL squad, the Bangladesh Cricket Board informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it would not play its matches in India during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, citing security concerns.
Bangladesh has requested that its fixtures be shifted to Sri Lanka, the co-host nation. The team is scheduled to play four matches—three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai—after the tournament begins on February 7.
So far, the ICC has not confirmed any change to the venues. However, the BCB has stated that the ICC has shown willingness to engage and assess the security concerns raised. The Bangladesh board sent a second formal communication on January 8, reiterating its request to relocate the matches and detailing the safety issues involved.
With the ICC yet to announce a final decision and the IPL return rumours firmly denied, uncertainty continues to surround Bangladesh’s participation logistics in the T20 World Cup. The situation remains closely watched as discussions between the BCB and ICC continue.
