Aminul Haque, the state minister for youth and sports in Bangladesh, announced on Monday that the government is working toward a swift resolution regarding the uncertainty surrounding India's proposed cricket tour of Bangladesh scheduled for September. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been monitoring the situation closely due to heightened political tensions between the two nations.
Concerns regarding the series emerged following an August 5 virtual press conference hosted by ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and members of her party from Delhi. While some speculated that this event had strained diplomatic relations, making it difficult for the two boards to engage, Aminul Haque dismissed these claims while speaking on the sidelines of a football match in Dhaka on August 10. He emphasized that sports should remain separate from politics, stating, "I think sports means sports, and through sports a good relationship is created with all our neighboring countries."
The minister confirmed that he has been in active communication with the Foreign Minister regarding the tour's status. "It is being worked on at the ministerial level. I have already spoken to the Foreign Minister today and they are also talking to the Indian Foreign Minister," he explained. Haque expressed a strong desire to maintain cordial and friendly ties between the two nations, specifically regarding the cricket series. He noted that the government is keen to move past the issues that arose during the recent World Cup, adding, "Inshallah, we are hopeful that it will be resolved very soon."
Adding to the sense of optimism, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, held a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tareque Rahman earlier on Monday. This development has provided some relief to the BCB. According to Haque, the discussions between the Foreign Ministries of both countries are ongoing, and there is a shared hope that the tensions will be addressed promptly.
