Lingering memories of a World Cup controversy which erupted nearly three months ago will return to centre stage when Bangladesh host India for a one-off Test, which starts Wednesday, and three one-day internationals.
The Test match in Fatullah on the outskirts of Dhaka will be the first meeting between the two teams since their contentious World Cup quarter-final in Melbourne in March which India won by 109 runs.
Bangladesh were left fuming at what they saw as unfair umpiring decisions, prompting government minister Mustafa Kamal to resign as president of the International Cricket Council alleging Indian bias.
The players publicly stated they have moved on from the World Cup, but fans in cricket-mad Bangladesh can be expected to remind the tourists of how their team were “robbed” of a semi-final spot.
“Playing at home is our best chance to beat India and take revenge for what happened at the World Cup,” said Dhaka student Amir Hossain. Keen to avoid a backlash from home supporters, authorities have ordered that an Islamic seminary near the stadium be closed for the duration of the Test and provocative banners will be prohibited in the stands.
India’s Test captain Virat Kohli hoped the World Cup controversy would not affect relations between the two teams.
