The worsening diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have cast doubt over the future of bilateral cricket, with the BCCI reportedly reluctant to tour the neighbouring country despite the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announcing a six-match white-ball series.
The BCB had announced the series on Friday, stating that three ODIs would be held on September 1, 3 and 6, followed by T20Is on September 9, 12 and 13, with the Indian team scheduled to arrive on August 28. The series was originally slated for last year but was postponed indefinitely over security concerns.
Sources indicate that the BCCI is unlikely to participate this year, reflecting its earlier instruction to IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the squad. The Indian board’s hesitation stems from the volatile political climate in Bangladesh, which has seen unrest and violence over the past six months.
Next month, Bangladesh are scheduled to play their T20 World Cup matches in India, and the BCB’s stance on their participation will be closely watched in the wake of Rahman’s ouster. If tensions persist, a scenario resembling India’s handling of cricket with Pakistan, where all ICC games are played at neutral venues, cannot be ruled out. The Indo-Pak T20 World Cup fixture, for instance, will take place in Sri Lanka next month.
Also read: KKR drops Mustafizur Rahman on BCCI directive
Bilateral relations have deteriorated following the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year amid anti-government protests. She was subsequently sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal over her alleged role in a crackdown that left several students dead.
Diplomatic exchanges have been frequent and tense, Dhaka summoned the Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma five times on various issues, while India summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Reaz Hamidullah once to raise security concerns. The transition from an “India-friendly” Awami League government to the interim Muhammad Yunus-led administration has significantly altered Dhaka’s diplomatic stance.
The developments suggest that political turbulence may continue to overshadow sporting ties, with the fate of bilateral cricket hanging in the balance.
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