The new government of Bangladesh has made a clear attempt to improve cricket relations with India. Soon after taking oath on February 18, 2026, Minister of State for Sports Aminul Haq met the Indian Deputy High Commissioner at Parliament House and stressed the need to resolve the entire dispute related to the T20 World Cup as soon as possible.
What did Bangladesh say on bad relations with India?
At a press conference after taking oath as minister, Aminul Haq said, “I met the Indian Deputy High Commissioner. We spoke openly on the issue of the T20 World Cup. The conversation was very friendly and honest. I clearly told him that we want to resolve all issues quickly through dialogue. Bangladesh wants good and honest relations with India, not just in sports, but in every field.” Aminul Haq also admitted that Bangladesh could not participate in the 2026 T20 World Cup due to diplomatic difficulties. He said, “As everyone knows, we could not play the World Cup due to diplomatic issues. If these issues had been resolved earlier, our team would have been on the field.
What is the whole controversy on the cricket field?
The issue started when Bangladesh’s star fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was suddenly ruled out of IPL 2025. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) called it a political decision and talks between the two boards came to a halt. Due to this tension, Bangladesh refused to play in the T20 World Cup. There were statements from both sides, debates on social media and a lot of anger was seen among cricket fans. Now, this is the first major initiative of Aminul Haq. He clearly said that it is necessary to resolve the issues that remain between BCCI and BCB. He said, “Now we should leave the past behind and move forward. Sports should be played on the field, not in politics.”
What is the message of the new BNP government?
Following the BNP’s victory in the 2026 elections, the Tariq Rahman government has supported “Bangladesh First” but has also stressed on balanced and positive relations with neighboring countries. This meeting of the Sports Minister seems to be a part of the same policy. He said that strengthening of sports relations will also lead to closer relations between the two countries.
No official statement has been issued by BCCI yet, but sources suggest that both the boards may start talks soon. If all goes well, this could pave the way for bilateral series and joint tournaments in the future. This meeting is more important than the cricket field. This is the first step towards bringing back trust between the two countries. Fans are now hoping that like the India-Pakistan match, the thrill of the India-Bangladesh match will also be seen on the field soon.
