Bangladesh’s State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, expressed optimism on Monday that the current impasse surrounding India’s proposed cricket tour of Bangladesh, scheduled for September, will be resolved in the near future. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been monitoring the situation closely, as political tensions between the two nations have cast doubt on the series’ viability.
Speculation regarding the tour intensified after ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a virtual press conference from Delhi on August 5, leading to concerns that diplomatic friction might hinder bilateral sporting engagements. However, speaking to on the sidelines of a football match in Dhaka on August 10, Aminul dismissed the notion that the political climate had irreparably damaged sports ties. “No, no, no… I don’t think so. I believe sports means sports, and through sports, a good relationship is fostered with all our neighboring countries,” he stated.
Aminul confirmed that he has been in active communication with the Foreign Minister to address the uncertainty. “The matter is being handled at the ministerial level. I have spoken with the Foreign Minister today, and discussions are currently taking place between the foreign ministries of both Bangladesh and India,” he explained. He emphasized that the government is eager to move past the tensions that emerged during the recent World Cup period, adding, “Inshallah, we are hopeful that it will be resolved very soon. We strongly want to maintain the cordiality and friendly relationship between Bangladesh and India, including the cricket series.”
A positive development occurred earlier on Monday when the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, met with Prime Minister Tareque Rahman. This meeting provided a sense of relief for the BCB, which is anxious to finalize the schedule. Aminul noted that the Indian High Commissioner’s engagement with the Prime Minister, alongside ongoing ministerial-level dialogues, reinforces the expectation that the issues will be settled. “They are very hopeful that the tension will be resolved soon. We are optimistic that this problem will be cleared up,” he concluded.
Ever since ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and some members of her party were allowed to host a virtual press conference in Delhi on August 5, there was a feeling floating around that suggested both countries were no
“We want to quickly resolve the deadlock that was created around the World Cup.
