Cricket in the sub-continent, often a unifying force, now finds itself caught in the crossfire of escalating cross-border tensions between India, Pakistan, and newly involved Bangladesh. As diplomatic relations sour, the meticulously planned cricket calendar faces significant disruptions, with two major events—India’s upcoming tour of Bangladesh and the 2025 Asia Cup—hanging in the balance. Fans across the REGION are left wondering if the sport can rise above political divides or if rivalries off the field will trump the ones on it.
India is slated to tour Bangladesh in August for a limited-overs series comprising three ODIs and three T20Is. However, recent geopolitical developments have cast a dark shadow over the tour. A source close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed, ‘While the series is penciled into the calendar, nothing is set in stone. Given the current climate, there’s a strong chance India might pull out of the Bangladesh tour.’ This uncertainty stems from provocative statements made by a retired Bangladesh army officer, Maj Gen (Retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman, who is reportedly linked to the interim government. Rahman’s controversial social media post called for the occupation of India’s northeastern states and even proposed a joint military alliance with China against India, stating, ‘If India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh should occupy seven states of North-East India. Discussions on a joint military system with China are necessary.’ Such remarks have inflamed tensions, making a potential boycott by India a realistic possibility, though no official statement from the BCCI has been issued yet.
Adding to the complexity, the specter of terrorism looms large over cricketing ties. A recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, has further strained relations, with the Indian government adopting a hardline stance. Playing cricket with neighboring countries under these circumstances seems increasingly unlikely. This brings us to the second major event under threat: the 2025 Asia Cup, scheduled for September, immediately after the Bangladesh series. With no venue finalized yet, and India-Pakistan encounters already a geopolitical minefield, sources suggest the tournament could face postponement. ‘Cricket between India and Pakistan isn’t ideal right now,’ admitted an insider. The Asia Cup thrives on the high-octane India-Pakistan rivalry, often dubbed the ‘El Clasico of cricket,’ drawing millions of viewers worldwide. Without this marquee clash, the tournament loses much of its allure and commercial value, a concern echoed by stakeholders across the cricketing fraternity.
Historically, the Asia Cup has navigated such challenges through innovative solutions. The 2023 edition, co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka under a hybrid model, saw India play all their matches in Sri Lanka while other teams featured in Pakistan. India emerged as champions, lifting the trophy in Colombo. However, replicating such arrangements in 2025 seems daunting given the current diplomatic deadlock. The hybrid model, while a temporary fix, doesn’t address the deeper issue of normalizing cricketing ties amid political unrest.
As the sub-continent grapples with these uncertainties, the broader implications for cricket cannot be ignored. The sport has long been a bridge between nations, fostering camaraderie even during tense times—think of the iconic 2004 Friendship Series between India and Pakistan, which thawed relations after years of hostility. Yet, today, with statements of aggression and incidents of terror dominating headlines, the chances of cricket playing its diplomatic role seem slim. Will the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) find a way to salvage these events, or will fans be deprived of witnessing some of the most anticipated clashes in world cricket? Only time will tell, but for now, the boundary lines of politics seem to be overshadowing the boundary ropes of the game.