Dhaka: Hours after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government led by Tarique Rahman took oath on Tuesday, the new State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, signalled that the country was keen to repair strained cricketing ties with India following the fallout over the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The diplomatic outreach comes after months of tension that saw Bangladesh withdraw from participating in the T20 World Cup matches scheduled in India, leading to its replacement in the tournament.
Outreach to India begins
Soon after assuming office, Aminul Haque said he met India’s Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka and discussed ways to resolve the impasse through dialogue.
Quoting Bangladeshi media reports, Haque said he wanted to settle differences through “friendly talks” and emphasised maintaining cordial relations with neighbouring countries. “Immediately after taking office, I met with the Deputy High Commissioner of India and discussed resolving the issue through friendly talks. We want to maintain good relations with neighbouring countries and address problems in the sports arena through diplomatic dialogue,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that in cricket, “necessary measures will be taken in accordance with ICC rules through discussion”, signalling that Dhaka is looking to work within the framework of the International Cricket Council.
Haque acknowledged that diplomatic complications had prevented Bangladesh from playing in the World Cup, hinting that earlier engagement could have avoided the crisis. “If those issues had been discussed and settled earlier, our team might have participated,” he said.
How the standoff unfolded
The cricket standoff dates back to December 2024, when Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was not released by his Kolkata Knight Riders franchise for national duty. The move was viewed in Dhaka as unjust and became a flashpoint in bilateral cricketing relations.
The situation escalated under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, during which overall India-Bangladesh relations faced strain. In protest, Bangladesh decided against travelling to India for its T20 World Cup fixtures, citing “security concerns”.
Following the refusal, the ICC barred Bangladesh from participating in the tournament. It subsequently replaced Bangladesh with Scotland but refrained from imposing sporting or administrative penalties, while assuring Dhaka of future hosting opportunities.
The episode marked one of the most significant cricketing fallouts between the two nations in recent years.
Questions over Bangladesh Cricket Board
Aminul Haque has also raised concerns over the election of officials to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which took place during the Yunus administration in May 2025. He termed the board election “questionable” and indicated that the new government would review the matter.
During that period, former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam Bulbul took charge as BCB president. It was under this leadership that Bangladesh formally withdrew from playing in India for the T20 World Cup.
Haque said the government would sit down and discuss the board’s functioning and ensure that necessary steps are taken promptly to move “in the right direction”. Meanwhile, BCB Chief Executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury confirmed that Bulbul has travelled to Australia, where his family resides.
Shakib and Mortaza in focus
The new minister also addressed the status of former Bangladesh captains Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, both of whom were associated with the Awami League and served as Members of Parliament.
Since the Yunus administration assumed office in August 2024, Shakib has reportedly been unable to return to Bangladesh, while Mortaza has remained out of public view. Both face multiple charges, including murder, linked to the anti-Sheikh Hasina protests in July-August 2024.
Haque indicated that he would like the cases against the two cricketers to be resolved, enabling their possible return to national cricket. Their absence has been keenly felt in Bangladesh’s cricketing setup, given their stature and experience.
Renewed focus on sports diplomacy
The new BNP government’s early outreach suggests that resetting cricket ties with India is a priority. Cricket has long been a sensitive and high-profile aspect of India-Bangladesh relations, often reflecting broader diplomatic currents.
While the T20 World Cup episode exposed deep fissures, the current administration appears keen to prevent sports from becoming hostage to political disagreements. Haque’s emphasis on dialogue, ICC-compliant processes and friendly engagement indicates a shift in tone from the previous regime.
Whether this diplomatic initiative leads to a full restoration of cricketing ties will depend on sustained engagement between the two boards and governments. However, the new government’s signals mark a potential thaw in relations at a time when regional sporting cooperation remains crucial.
If talks progress constructively, Bangladesh’s return to regular bilateral and ICC events involving India could help stabilise cricketing ties and restore confidence among players and fans on both sides.