NEW DELHI: Since Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of IPL 2026 on the directive of the BCCI, relations between the Indian board and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have hit an all-time low, with the BCB adopting a tit-for-tat approach.

In a retaliatory move, Bangladesh suspended the telecast of IPL matches in the country and also refused to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing security concerns for its players.

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In the latest development, reports have been doing the rounds that the BCCI made a U-turn on its decision and offered the BCB Mustafizur Rahman’s return to the league. However, BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul dismissed all such claims, clarifying that there is no truth to the reports.

“I have not had any written or verbal discussions (with the BCCI) regarding Mustafizur’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 the Ajker newspaper.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, while announcing the diktat to release Rahman, had stated that it was being done because of “developments all around”, without explaining the specifics.

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Relations between India and Bangladesh have grown increasingly strained in the aftermath of the removal of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She fled to India in August 2024 following widespread anti-government protests that rocked the country.

Subsequently, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal over her alleged involvement in a violent crackdown on the protests, during which several students lost their lives. Since her ouster, Bangladesh has witnessed a surge in violence, with members of the Hindu community reportedly facing targeted attacks.