'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 short chat with Cricbuzz, Aminul also insisted that he will find out why the Indian Premier League, the world's biggest franchise-based T20 tournament, is banned from being broadcast in Bangladesh and will take a decision after understanding the complete situation.

Earlier, Cricbuzz revealed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board will seek government permission regarding allowing their players to take part in the PSL due to the regional tension prevailing in the subcontinent.

On Sunday, 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 Aminul was notified about the latest development regarding the PSL, which is already reeling from a spate of player pullouts and travel advisories issued by several countries, the state minister insisted that they are not ready to send their cricketers if there is a security concern, while adding that they are waiting for official communication from the BCB regarding the PSL.

"Definitely our cricketers are not going if there is a security concern (in PSL)," Aminul told this website on Sunday. "First BCB has to inform us about it (security concern) and afterwards we will take an official decision based upon our observation (following scrutiny from national agencies)," 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 and we want everyone to play from their respective places," he added.

"The BCB should consult us about security purposes and everything, and if they can ensure that (everything is fine), in that case we can proceed," he said, suggesting that the BCB should also take a close look at the status of the tournament and update the government accordingly.

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 (NOCs) 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 in this regard, as he is not ready to mix sports with politics.

Earlier, the Professor Yunus-led government, which eventually made Bangladesh cricket pay heavily as they did not take part in the T20 World Cup citing security concerns over playing in India, banned the IPL from being telecast in Bangladesh.

"We have not thought about it as yet (broadcasting IPL in Bangladesh). After the vacation (Eid) ends, we will have to discuss it with the cricket board and try to figure out the actual picture (regarding banning IPL), 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 (broadcasting in Bangladesh), and later we can make a decision," he added.