Indian golf now finds itself dragged into a political rough it never aimed for. The Professional Golf Tour of India still does not know whether Bangladeshi players will tee up this season.
Kapil Dev addressed the issue on Monday and chose caution over confrontation. “We’ll sit down and talk about the recent issue. We haven’t taken any decision on it yet,” he said while launching franchise UP Prometheus in the new league format.
That line matters because the pressure feels real. Bangladeshi golfers Jamal Hossain, Md Siddikur Rahman and Md Akbar Hossain currently live in limbo, unsure whether form and rankings will count for anything.
Kapil repeated the same message in New Delhi at the launch of PGTI’s franchise-based competition, 72 The League. “We haven’t taken any decision on it yet. We will sit down and discuss the matter,” he told reporters, careful not to inflame an already tense situation.
The uncertainty has little to do with golf swings or scorecards. Cricket lit the fuse and sport now absorbs the blast radius.
Relations between the BCB and BCCI deteriorated sharply after Kolkata Knight Riders released Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the 2026 IPL, following BCCI instructions. The move sparked political backlash in India and anger across Bangladesh.
Dhaka responded firmly. The BCB decided against sending the national team to India for next month’s T20 World Cup, citing “security concerns” and advice from the interim government, and formally asked the ICC to move matches to Sri Lanka.
The situation escalated again when Bangladesh suspended the broadcast of the IPL 2026 season nationwide. That decision signalled that cricket had crossed into state-level confrontation.
Golf now feels the knock-on effect. Administrators insist no ban exists, but silence stretches careers and stalls planning just as effectively as a written order.
Kapil also refused to comment on the BCB’s approach to the ICC over venue changes, a wise dodge that avoided pouring petrol on the fire. Still, neutrality does not shield the tour from consequences.
