"Diplomatic Reset": New Sports Minister Moves to Repair Bangladesh-India Cricket Ties

Bangladesh’s newly appointed sports minister Aminul Haque, has moved swiftly to cool regional tensions after Bangladesh's absence from the T20 World Cup 2026, signalling a diplomatic reset aimed at restoring sporting ties with India.

Taking charge with a reconciliatory tone, Aminul confirmed he had already met India’s deputy high commissioner at Parliament shortly after his oath-taking. The discussion, he said, centred on Bangladesh’s non-participation in the global event jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

“After taking the oath today, I met with the deputy high commissioner of India at the Parliament building. I discussed the T20 World Cup with him,” he said.

“We want to resolve this issue quickly through discussions because we want to maintain friendly relations with all our neighbouring countries.”

Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the marquee tournament after the previous administration decided against sending the team to India amid diplomatic strain. The situation intensified when reports emerged that Indian authorities had asked Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, a development that further complicated matters.

While the national side missed out on competing in the 2026 event, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) received encouraging news on February 9 when the ICC confirmed there would be no penalty for refusing to play matches in India. The global body also awarded Bangladesh hosting rights for an out-of-turn ICC tournament before the 2031 Men’s ODI World Cup, which the country will co-host with India.

Aminul emphasized that sport should serve as a bridge rather than a barrier.

“From sports to all other sectors, we want to build a sincere and cordial relationship with India,” he said.

“Because of diplomatic complications, we could not play in the World Cup. If those issues had been discussed and settled earlier, our team might have participated.”

Despite the recent setback, bilateral cricket remains scheduled, with India set to tour Bangladesh in September for three ODIs and three T20Is.