Bangladesh, India scramble to save white-ball series

Bangladesh is urgently attempting to salvage a six-match cricket tour by India next month, with the countries' foreign ministers involved in talks to resolve the impasse. The white-ball series, consisting of three one-day internationals and three T20 matches, was originally scheduled for August last year but postponed due to a deterioration in diplomatic relations between Dhaka and New Delhi. Bangladesh Sports Minister Aminul Haque confirmed that ministerial-level discussions are underway to salvage the series.

Tensions between the two nations have been high since Bangladesh's 2024 mass uprising, which ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina fled to India, where she remains in hiding. In February, Bangladesh declined to send a team to India for the T20 World Cup, citing security concerns. The International Cricket Council (ICC) subsequently refused Bangladesh's request to play the matches in Sri Lanka, instead arranging for the series to be played in Scotland.

The ICC is urging Bangladesh to resolve the deadlock surrounding the cricket tour. Haque expressed hope that the situation can be resolved swiftly. India last visited Bangladesh for a cricket series in 2022, winning a two-Test series 2-0, while Bangladesh emerged victorious in the ODIs with a 2-1 win. A tour of India by Bangladesh in September-October 2024 resulted in India winning both formats in a two-Test and two T20 series.