Will Political Unrest And Asylum Affect Bangladesh's Cricket Tour To India?

India's cricket team is set to face Bangladesh in September, and recent events have heightened interest in this series. Political turmoil in Bangladesh has thrust the country into the spotlight.

A peaceful student protest turned violent, leading Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee Bangladesh on Monday, August 5. Her first stop was India, bringing the country into focus.

Bangladesh will play a two-match Test series against India starting September 19 in Chennai. The second Test is scheduled for Kanpur from September 27 to October 1. This will be followed by a three-match T20I series on October 6 in Dharamsala, October 9 in Delhi, and October 12 in Hyderabad.

The political situation could affect the series. There are demands for Sheikh Hasina's arrest and return to Bangladesh. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) of Bangladesh has accused her of killing many people.

SCBA President AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, who is also the Joint General Secretary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has been vocal about these allegations.

Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh's interim government, expressed disappointment with India's stance on the unrest. He said, "If there is a fire in the brother's house, how can I say it is an internal affair."

"The BNP believes that Bangladesh and India should have cooperation. However, supporting our adversaries complicates the maintenance of that cooperation," stated BNP leader Gayeshwar Roy.

Mixing politics with cricket often leads to negative outcomes. For instance, India and Pakistan haven't played a bilateral series for over a decade due to strained political relations.

Sheikh Hasina had close ties with India. The new regime might not maintain this stance despite India's efforts to engage with them. PM Narendra Modi congratulated Muhammad Yunus, and the Indian ambassador attended his swearing-in ceremony.

Regardless, cricketing relations between India and Bangladesh should remain unaffected. The BCCI holds significant power in world cricket, and the BCB would likely avoid conflict with them.

The unrest led to delays in other tours as well. The Bangladesh A team arrived in Pakistan on August 10 after a four-day delay. Initially scheduled for August 6, they left after training in Dhaka.

The senior team resumed practice following the formation of an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. His cabinet began work on Friday with Asif Mahmud as sports minister.

Normalcy is returning to Bangladesh, and cricket activities have resumed. Despite delays caused by political turmoil, including several BCB directors leaving due to their association with Sheikh Hasina's party Awami League, cricket continues.

The Pakistan army supports the interim government, which should stabilise the situation further. With the tour still a month away, sending the team to India shouldn't pose problems.

The upcoming series between India and Bangladesh remains crucial amid these developments. Fans hope that political issues won't overshadow this sporting event.