Bangladesh Cricket Board writes to BCCI to repair ties after Mustafizur Rahman IPL row

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to repair strained relations and explore greater bilateral cricket cooperation. This move comes after Bangladesh pulled out of the T20 World Cup in India earlier this year, citing security concerns following the release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman by Kolkata Knight Riders under BCCI instructions. Relations between the two cricket boards deteriorated sharply after these developments, with political tensions adding to the strain.

BCB sources confirmed that the letter was sent by Director of Cricket Operations, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, highlighting the upcoming white-ball tour of India scheduled for September. The letter also included references to the 50-over Asia Cup, which Bangladesh is set to host next year, and suggested exploring additional opportunities for reciprocal cricket engagements. Fahim emphasized that the communication was part of regular outreach with other cricket boards and intended to stabilise relations ahead of the series.

The September series is set to feature three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals between India and Bangladesh. While the BCB hopes India will travel to Dhaka for the series, the BCCI’s response is still pending. Hosting these matches would significantly support the Bangladesh board’s finances, given the revenue generated from broadcast rights and sponsorships. The BCB also indicated that the Indian women’s team is scheduled to tour Bangladesh after the men’s series.

The letter from Bangladesh comes after political and administrative changes in the country following its general elections in February. The BCB has expressed a desire to adopt a more pragmatic approach, moving away from the previous hardline stance associated with former president Aminul Islam Bulbul. There is also speculation that former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal could take over the presidency of the BCB, bringing a conciliatory approach that aligns with the Indian board’s preferences.

Amid the ongoing tensions, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal referred to Mustafizur Rahman’s release by KKR as “unfortunate,” emphasizing that the Indian government had no role in the decision. He stressed that cricket administration operates independently and expressed hope that good sense would prevail in future engagements. The BCB’s outreach to the BCCI marks an effort to reset relations and ensure smooth scheduling of tours, stabilising cricket ties between the two countries.