BCB wants to repair BCCI ties post T20 World Cup turmoil: Diplomatic row denied Bangladesh participation

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque clarified that unresolved diplomatic issues resulted in T20 World Cup non-participation

Updated on: Feb 19, 2026, 10:30:39 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Bangladesh’s newly appointed State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, has indicated he is keen to reset cricketing ties between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and “resolve the issue quickly” following the events that led to Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup 2026.

Bangladesh are not part of the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup (AFP)

“After taking the oath today, I met the Deputy High Commissioner of India at the Parliament building. I discussed the T20 World Cup with him,” Haque said on Tuesday after Bangladesh’s new cabinet was sworn in following the general elections. “It was a cordial conversation. I told him that we want to resolve this issue quickly through discussions because we want to maintain friendly relations with all our neighbouring countries.”

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Tensions between the two cricket boards, who are set to co-host the 2031 World Cup, escalated after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, the only Bangladeshi in IPL 2026, was removed from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad. Bangladesh, citing security concerns, then urged the ICC to shift their World Cup matches out of India. The ICC rejected the plea and later replaced Bangladesh in the tournament with Scotland.

While Bangladesh’s sports advisor Asif Nazrul blamed both the players and the BCB for the team’s absence from the tournament, Haque clarified that unresolved diplomatic issues were at the heart of the matter.

“You know that 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,” he said.

The ICC, however, assured that Bangladesh would not face penalties for refusing to travel to India and promised the country hosting rights for a global tournament in the 2028–31 cycle.

Haque’s statement could indicate that if relations improve, India’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh in September, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is, may proceed as planned.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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