Nepal has proposed a bilateral T20I series with Bangladesh as the two South Asian countries look to strengthen their relationship through sports and cultural exchanges.
Nepal’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ghanshyam Bhandari, made the proposal during a meeting with State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday.
Bhandari said Nepal was keen to increase sporting cooperation between the two countries, with cricket seen as one of the areas where closer ties could be developed.
“Bangladesh and Nepal have excellent political relations. However, there is a great opportunity to take the relationship further through cultural exchanges and sports,” Bhandari said.
The two sides have met only twice in T20Is, with Bangladesh winning on both occasions. Their first meeting came at the 2014 T20 World Cup in Chattogram, where Bangladesh won by eight wickets. They faced each other again at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Kingstown, with Bangladesh winning by 21 runs.
Bhandari said a series could also provide encouragement to people in Nepal following the country’s recent natural disasters.
“Especially for our people affected by the recent disasters, we need inspiration. We are requesting Bangladesh to arrange a T20 series. Our team is fully prepared to tour Bangladesh. Similarly, we are also ready to welcome the Bangladesh team to Nepal,” he said.
Aminul responded positively to the proposal and said Bangladesh believes in using sports diplomacy to improve regional cooperation.
“We strongly believe in sports diplomacy and are already working to expand cooperation in different sports,” Aminul said.
Bhandari also thanked the Bangladesh government and its people for providing timely assistance to Nepal following the recent floods and natural disasters.
Both sides discussed increasing sporting and cultural exchanges, with cricket identified as a possible platform for bringing the two countries closer.
