Bangladesh is currently working to save a six-match cricket tour against India scheduled for next month. The series, which includes three one-day internationals and three T20 matches, was originally slated for August last year but faced delays due to deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The situation has reached the highest levels of government, with Bangladesh Sports Minister Aminul Haque confirming on Monday that foreign ministers from both countries are actively involved in the negotiations. “It is being worked on at the ministerial level,” Haque stated, expressing optimism that the current impasse would be settled shortly.
Tensions between Dhaka and New Delhi escalated following the 2024 mass uprising in Bangladesh that ousted then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina, a longtime ally of India, subsequently fled to the country and remains in hiding. The diplomatic friction spilled into the sporting arena in February, when Bangladesh declined to participate in the T20 World Cup in India, citing security concerns. The International Cricket Council ultimately replaced Bangladesh with Scotland after denying a request to relocate the matches to Sri Lanka.
Addressing the ongoing challenges, Haque emphasized the need to move past the complications surrounding the World Cup. Historically, the two sides have maintained a competitive cricket relationship; India last toured Bangladesh in 2022, securing a 2-0 victory in the Test series while losing the ODIs 2-1. More recently, Bangladesh traveled to India in September and October 2024 for two Tests and two T20 matches, with India emerging victorious in both formats.
“We want to quickly resolve the deadlock that was created around the Cricket World Cup,” Haque said.
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