List of countries who have banned IPL

Three countries have banned the telecast of the IPL.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most popular leagues in the world. This league attracts a massive audience worldwide. It easily rivals the world’s biggest international sporting events.

Despite this, local politics and clashes of differing beliefs often hinder its expansion. Millions of people tune in from places like London or Melbourne to see the action. Meanwhile, some countries’ governments are banning the broadcasting of this league in their countries.

This mess started due to a growing diplomatic dispute. The IPL has now become a platform for major political debates.

Therefore, in some countries, broadcasters are forced to refrain from showing this league due to government orders. This shuts out cricket fans and leaves them totally in the dark. Let’s take a look at the list of all countries who have banned IPL telecast.

3. Pakistan:

The long-standing rivalry between India and Pakistan is evident in cricket as well. This tension has made the IPL a victim for years. A formal ban on the broadcast really stuck in 2019. That took place while Imran Khan’s government was in power.

Indian broadcasters stopped showing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in India after the Pulwama attack. This move hit the league’s coverage. Pakistan’s Federal Cabinet hit back with a direct tit-for-tat move. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced they would block all IPL matches in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) is closely monitoring this rule. They make sure no cable provider or channel breaks the law. This ban was imposed due to the military conflict that began in 2019. However, due to the political deadlock, no official broadcasts are currently taking place in the country.

2. Afghanistan:

Political revenge caused the bans in Bangladesh and Pakistan. However, in Afghanistan, this ban was imposed due to religious rules. This happened after a major change in government in 2021, when the Taliban seized control of Kabul.

Right after that, the new leaders put out strict versions of Sharia law. These new rules hit every kind of media and show. The government specifically picked out the IPL. They called the broadcast content anti-Islamic.

Their problem isn’t actually with the cricket itself. Instead, they hate the extra stuff in the broadcast. They don’t like seeing cheerleaders or women sitting with men in the stands. The Taliban’s morality police say these images do not fit with how they run the country.

This led to a total ban on matches on national TV. Afghan fans still love this league because many of their country’s stars participate in this tournament. Now, they have to find other ways to follow the games. The state simply won’t let local channels show the live feed.

1. Bangladesh:

Tensions between India and Bangladesh escalated in early 2026, leading to the biggest and newest ban in IPL history. On January 5, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting suspended this league for the foreseeable future.

This major step came shortly after a heated incident. The Kolkata Knight Riders released pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their roster. Bangladesh officials argue that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) forced the team to release him.

They don’t see a real sporting reason for it. The interim government points to public interest and the hurt feelings of the people. They view the move as an insult to their national pride.

Therefore, the state ordered the local network to stop all IPL coverage. TV screens are going black across the whole country just weeks before the season starts.

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