Sponsors pull out, future darkens: Bangladesh cricketers caught in India impasse after Mustafizur Rahman row | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: A cloud of uncertainty hangs over Bangladesh cricket as the ongoing standoff with India begins to hit players off the field, with several domestic cricketers at risk of losing Indian sponsorship deals amid the fallout from the Mustafizur Rahman controversy.Go beyond borders with our YouTube channel. REGISTER NOW!At the heart of the crisis is Bangladesh’s strained relations with Indian cricket authorities following the withdrawal of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League, following a directive from the BCCI. The episode became a diplomatic and cricketing flashpoint, prompting the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to raise security concerns and seek the ICC’s intervention regarding its participation in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India.

According to reports, the uncertainty has already started affecting Bangladeshi players commercially. Indian sports equipment company Sanspareils Greenlands (SG) has reportedly decided not to pursue sponsorship deals with several Bangladesh cricketers, including captain Litton Das. Although no official communication has yet been released, players and their representatives have been informally alerted. “I haven’t officially heard anything like that,” an SG-sponsored Bangladeshi cricketer told Cricbuzz, reflecting the confusion within the camp.A senior BCB official, speaking to Cricbuzz on condition of anonymity, admitted that the players were suffering from severe mental strain. “It is a very difficult time for the cricketers as they are not sure what awaits them in the coming days. They are quite tensed and that is understandable,” the official said, adding that the players were regularly contacting the board officials for clarification on Bangladesh’s position in the World Cup.

The uncertainty has also destabilized the foreign technical staff. A member of the support team told Cricbuzz that they hope the situation resolves quickly. “We are here for cricket, and what’s bigger than a World Cup? I hope the problem is resolved soon,” he said.According to Telecom Asia, agents of the Bangladeshi players have been informed that SG may not renew its contracts, raising fears that other Indian manufacturers may follow suit. “Other manufacturers may also choose not to sponsor our cricketers,” said a source involved in player sponsorship.The BCB, meanwhile, wrote twice to the ICC following an emergency meeting on January 4, requesting that Bangladesh’s matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka for security reasons. Pending the ICC’s decision, Bangladesh are scheduled to play Group C matches in Kolkata and Mumbai from February 7.