Cricket ties between India and Bangladesh have reached a historic low following a series of diplomatic and security crises. In a major setback, Bangladesh cricket may face another big hit because of the ongoing tensions with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Indian cricket equipment maker SG is thinking about ending its sponsorship deals with several Bangladeshi players, according to the multiple media reports.
Relations began to deteriorate sharply in late 2024 following civil unrest in Bangladesh and reports of violence against minority communities. This instability led to intense public pressure in India, resulting in the BCCI directing the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release pacer Mustafizur Rahman from his Rs 9.2 crore contract in early January 2026.
Indian sports equipment major Sanspareils Greenlands (SG) has paused all sponsorship plans involving Bangladesh after relations between the two countries worsened both in cricket and politically. There is no official confirmation yet, but the development has created serious worry within Bangladesh cricket, Telecom Asia Sport reported citing sources.
SG has been one of the most active cricket equipment brands in Bangladesh for many years. The company sponsors several national players and has a strong presence in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where many batters use SG bats.
Top players likely to be affected
Litton Das, the captain of Bangladesh’s T20 team, is believed to be one of the players with an individual deal with SG.
Others reportedly linked to the brand include Test batter Mominul Haque and young talent Yasir Ali. SG was close to renewing many of its contracts, but the recent situation has caused them to put everything on hold, the report mentioned.
Mustafizur Rahman controversy triggers tensions
The trouble grew after the controversy around Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. Earlier this month, the BCCI told the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur from their IPL 2026 squad. No official reason was given, but many believe the move was influenced by political pressure following reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.
Shortly after, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said it did not want to send the national team to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup because of security concerns. All of Bangladesh’s group-stage matches are scheduled to be held in India. The BCB also asked the ICC to shift their matches to a neutral venue, but reports say the request was denied.
The BCB later sent another detailed letter to the ICC explaining the security issues. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of IPL 2026 in the country after Mustafizur’s removal from the KKR squad. Mustafizur has now signed with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for its 2026 season.