Bangladesh cricketers won't play PSL if there are security concerns

Bangladesh state minister for youth and sports, Aminul Haque, said on Sunday that Bangladesh cricketers will not take part in the upcoming Pakistan Super League if there is a security concern.

During a chat with Cricbuzz, Aminul also insisted he will find out why the Indian Premier League is banned from being broadcast in Bangladesh and will take a decision after understanding the complete situation.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board will seek government permission regarding allowing their players to take part in the PSL due to regional tensions.

On Sunday, the PCB announced that PSL 2026 will now be restricted to Lahore and Karachi, with matches to be played behind closed doors, as organisers scale back plans in response to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

When notified about the latest PSL development, the state minister insisted they are not ready to send their cricketers if there is a security concern, while adding they are waiting for official communication from the BCB.

"Definitely our cricketers are not going if there is a security concern (in PSL)," Aminul told this website. "First BCB has to inform us about it and afterwards we will take an official decision based upon our observation," he said.

"If the BCB ensures us that there is no problem if our cricketers go there, in that case we don't have any problem. They (BCB) have to ensure what the players want because we don't want to discourage sports," he added.

Six players – Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon (Lahore Qalandars), Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim (Peshawar Zalmi), and Rishad Hossain (Peshawar Zalmi) – had earlier been granted No Objection Certificates by the BCB after being picked by franchises for the tournament, scheduled from March 26 to May 3.

Aminul added that following the Eid vacation, he will sit with the respective authorities to understand why the IPL is banned in Bangladesh and will take a decision, as he is not ready to mix sports with politics.

Earlier, the Professor Yunus-led government banned the IPL from being telecast in Bangladesh.

"We have not thought about it as yet (broadcasting IPL in Bangladesh). After the vacation ends, we will have to discuss it with the cricket board and try to figure out the actual picture, and after knowing everything, we will take a decision," he said.

"We want to develop a friendly relationship (with India), and there shouldn't be any other issue. Sports shouldn't be politicised. We have to know why it (IPL) was closed, and later we can make a decision," he added.