Hindu extremists escalate boycott demands against Bangladesh cricket team

The first Test begins tomorrow in Chennai, with protests anticipated at multiple venues.

Pressure is mounting on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from Hindu extremist groups to boycott the Bangladesh cricket team due to alleged political violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

The Hindu Mahasabha, a right-wing organisation, has threatened to disrupt the upcoming Test match in Kanpur. Vice-President Jaiveer Bharadwaj stated, “Hindus are being massacred in Bangladesh… temples are being destroyed,” leading the group to oppose the India-Bangladesh cricket match in Gwalior.

This follows a letter from another right-wing group, Janajagriti Samiti, demanding the cancellation of the scheduled matches. They argue that no games should occur until the alleged atrocities against Hindus are addressed.

Controversial religious leader Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati known for his history of hate speech targeting Muslims and women, has previously incited violence against the Muslim community.

His latest statements have rallied support among Hindutva members and sympathisers on social media, further escalating the boycott campaign has also threatened to disrupt the India-Bangladesh match scheduled for Delhi from September 19 to 23. He claimed that Hindus in Bangladesh are under siege while India hosts their cricket team.

The first Test is set to begin tomorrow in Chennai. The series will feature two Tests and three T20 matches until October 12. Matches are planned for Chennai, Kanpur, Gwalior, Delhi, and Hyderabad, raising concerns about potential protests at multiple venues.

India’s cricketing landscape is again facing the spectre of right-wing protests as calls to boycott the Bangladesh cricket team intensify. This echoes a troubling history of similar threats against visiting teams, particularly notable during the lead-up to the Pakistan tour in January 1999.

Back then, the Shiv Sena party made headlines when its activists vandalised the headquarters of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). In a dramatic act of protest, they even dug up the pitch at the New Delhi Test venue, forcing the match to be relocated to Chennai.