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Shakib Al Hasan Hopes New Government Will Strengthen Bangladesh Cricket Ties

Shakib Al Hasan expressed optimism that Bangladesh's new government will improve global cricket relations after the previous interim government barred the team from the T20 World Cup. The ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland after security concerns prevented travel to India. Shakib hopes upcoming BCB elections will restore communication with India and other boards. He urged the new government led by Tarique Rahman to make right decisions for cricket's future.

Key Points: Shakib on New Govt & Bangladesh Cricket Ties

  • Bangladesh missed T20 World Cup due to govt denial
  • ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland
  • BCB-BCCI relations strained after Mustafizur's IPL release
  • Shakib hopes new govt and BCB polls will improve communication
2 min read

New government will strengthen Bangladesh's cricket relations globally: Shakib Al Hasan

Shakib Al Hasan says regime change in Bangladesh will improve global cricket relations, citing hopes for new govt to make right decisions for the sport.

"I think they'll take the right decision in terms of cricket. - Shakib Al Hasan"

Mumbai, April 29

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said that the cricketing landscape in Bangladesh and the country's cricketing ties globally will improve following the regime change in Bangladesh and hoped that the new government will take the "right decision in terms of cricket."

Bangladesh's interim government did not permit the national team to participate in the T20 World Cup held in February-March. As a result, the International Cricket Council (ICC) replaced Bangladesh with Scotland after the government declined to allow the team to travel to India, citing security concerns.

Relations between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also got strained after the Bangladesh team didn't travel to India.

The issue arose after the BCCI instructed the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur from their squad ahead of the IPL 2026 season, amid violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the BCB had requested that Bangladesh's matches be moved to Sri Lanka, but the ICC rejected the proposal. Bangladesh were eventually replaced by Scotland at the World Cup.

Speaking to reporters at an EUT20 League event in Mumbai, Shakib said he expects things in Bangladesh to improve under the new government, led by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He believes the upcoming BCB elections will also bring better communication, not just with India, but with other cricket boards as well, helping resolve issues and move things forward constructively.

"I think things will start to get better. There was an election that happened, so a new government came in. I think they'll take the right decision in terms of cricket. Also, our cricket board election is supposed to happen sometime soon. Once that happens, I think it will settle down, and they'll have good communication with, not only India, but with all other boards, and they'll have fruitful discussions, and they'll take things forward," he told reporters on Wednesday.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Shakib is right to be optimistic, but the damage done by the previous regime is significant. Not sending the team to the World Cup because of "security concerns" seemed more like a political stunt than genuine worry. The strained BCCI-BCB relations will take time to heal. I hope the new government prioritizes cricket diplomacy—Bangladesh has wonderful talent that deserves to shine on the global stage.
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Rohit P
As an Indian cricket fan, I was disappointed when Bangladesh didn't come to the World Cup. The ICC decision to replace them with Scotland was correct—you can't just skip a global event. Shakib is a legend, and he's being diplomatic here, but honestly, the BCB needs a complete overhaul. The new PM Tarique Rahman should focus on rebuilding trust with BCCI. After all, India-Bangladesh cricket is a big deal for fans everywhere! 🏏
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Nikhil C
The whole episode with Mustafizur being released by KKR was unfortunate. IPL is a global league, and players from all countries participate. Using politics to pressure franchises sets a bad precedent. Shakib knows the game well, and I trust his judgment that things will improve. But let's be real—the BCB election needs to bring in leaders who prioritize cricket, not political agendas.
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Rahul R
Respectful criticism: Shakib is hoping for the best, but I'm skeptical. The previous government's actions showed a clear anti-India bias, and the new government led by Tarique Rahman hasn't done much to fix relations yet. Why should we believe words when actions matter? I want to see concrete steps—like Bangladesh touring India for a bilateral series—before I get optimistic. Cricket should unite, not divide.
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Sne

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