The deterioration of relations between the two neighbouring countries is nothing new. With diplomatic ties hitting rock bottom, the Board of Control for Cricket in India on Tuesday cancelled the Indian women's team's upcoming tour to Bangladesh scheduled for December. The incident of Dhaka's International Crimes Tribunal sentencing former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death is also being considered significant here. A board spokesperson said the central government's green signal for this tour was not received. The tour was supposed to include three ODIs and three T20 matches for India.
Last August, the men's senior team's tour to Bangladesh was also cancelled for political reasons. It was then said that a decision on this tour would be taken later, according to the situation. Now, the cancellation of the women's team's tour is not the end of the matter. No representative of the Indian board was seen at the Asian Cricket Council's general meeting held in Dhaka either. The Indian board participated through a video call.
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Even though bilateral tours have been stopped, there is no barrier to playing against Bangladesh at neutral venues.
Last September, India played against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup Super Four, and India's women also played against Bangladesh in the last group match of the recent ODI World Cup. According to reports so far, the Indian board has started preparations to organise a home series as an alternative arrangement for Harmanpreet's team in December. There is no certainty about this tour ever happening in the future, either. The Indian board spokesperson says, "The board will follow the central government's guidelines on this matter".
The Bangladesh board has not said anything yet about India's tour cancellation. Another question arises: next year, India and Sri Lanka will jointly host the T20 World Cup.
Will Bangladesh come to play in India there? Or will they also play in Sri Lanka like Pakistan?
