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Bangladesh Seeks to Repair Cricket Ties with India

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
  • Feb 19, 2026
  • 634

Bangladesh’s newly appointed Sports Minister Aminul Haque has expressed his intent to mend ties with India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following recent diplomatic and cricketing tensions.

After taking oath, Haque revealed that he met the Indian Deputy High Commissioner at the Parliament building to discuss the issue surrounding the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup. He emphasized that Bangladesh wants a swift resolution through dialogue, underlining Dhaka’s commitment to maintaining friendly relations with neighboring countries.

World Cup Withdrawal and ICC Decision

Bangladesh had been scheduled to play its World Cup matches in Mumbai and Kolkata but declined to travel to India, citing security concerns. As a result, the International Cricket Council (ICC) replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament.

Diplomatic Engagement

On February 13, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first phone conversation with Tariq Rahman, congratulating him on his electoral victory and expressing hope for strengthened bilateral ties and shared development goals. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) later thanked Modi publicly, affirming its readiness for constructive engagement based on mutual respect and regional stability.

IPL Controversy

Tensions escalated after the BCCI expelled Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). He had been signed by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹9.20 crore during the mini-auction on December 16 but was released on January 3 following protests in India over reported attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) objected to the move, and the issue quickly took a political turn in Bangladesh. The then government led by Muhammad Yunus reportedly banned IPL broadcasts in the country. Bangladesh also urged relocation of the World Cup from India, a proposal rejected by the ICC.

Former Sports Minister Asif Nazrul had earlier declined to send the national team to India, citing safety concerns for players and support staff.

With Aminul Haque now signaling openness to dialogue, there appears to be a renewed attempt to separate cricket from political tensions and restore sporting and diplomatic normalcy between the two neighboring nations.