Cricket relations between India and Bangladesh have once again soured. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put Bangladesh’s white-ball tour, scheduled for August, on hold.
This decision comes amidst already heightened tensions following the exclusion of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from his IPL team.
BCCI’s Stance Clear, Government Approval Necessary
According to sources, the BCCI maintains its previous stance regarding the Bangladesh tour. The board will await approval from the Indian government before making any final decision.
A BCCI official stated clearly on the matter, “BCCI’s stance remains the same. The board will need approval from the government before going ahead with any tour to Bangladesh. As of now, BCCI hasn’t confirmed the itinerary. This is independent of Mustafizur’s ouster.”
It’s worth noting that India had previously canceled a tour to Bangladesh earlier this year. At that time, diplomatic tensions between the two countries had escalated. Furthermore, BCCI representatives did not participate in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meetings held in Dhaka.
The situation became even more sensitive after Mustafizur Rahman was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. This led to political statements in India, intensifying the debate on the intersection of cricket and politics.
BCB’s Concerns Rise, Emergency Meeting Called
Following the BCCI’s decision, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) also convened an emergency meeting late at night. The board is now deliberating on how to respond to India’s decision.
For Bangladesh, the tour to India is considered crucial not only from a cricketing perspective but also economically.
A source commented on the entire development, “The BCB is weighing all options. They need to see how far this tension can last. They will also see if they can make an appeal to the ICC about moving their T20 World Cup matches.”
Now, all eyes are on whether Bangladesh will be able to play its matches in India during the upcoming T20 World Cup next month. The situation is currently unclear, but it is certain that the ongoing tension between the two boards could affect the upcoming international schedule.
