This week on Hafta, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Jayashree Arunachalam and Anand Vardhan are joined by Chander Shekhar Luthra, a veteran sports journalist, and Suhasini Haidar, diplomatic affairs editor of The Hindu. 

The discussion opens with India’s latest cricketing row with Bangladesh, triggered by the release of Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026 following BCCI directives on apparent geopolitical grounds.

Chander Shekhar sums up the fallout bluntly: “Bangladesh has always backed India at the ICC. There was never a single instance where Bangladesh voted against the BCCI. We’ve actually created an enemy for no reason.”

Panelists also recall how cricket once acted as a diplomatic bridge – most notably during India-Pakistan engagements in the early 2000s. Jayashree notes, “I remember 20 or 30 years ago when cricket was actually used to soften political tensions. There was that India tour of Pakistan, a couple of years after the Kargil war, which was seen as a powerful gesture – a way of saying that the friendship sort of exists… That’s why this episode feels so petty to me. Are we officially at war with Bangladesh?”

The discussion then moves to the nationwide protests in Iran. Suhasini stresses that the demonstrations are rooted in lived economic pain. “I don’t think the protests are completely run by foreigners. You’re seeing real protests on the streets.”

She points to inflation, sanctions, and currency collapse as long-term pressure points, noting that the anger spans cities and social groups, not just activists.

While acknowledging reports of severe repression, Suhasini cautions against overstating the immediacy of regime change. “The Iranian regime is going to have to keep dealing with the anger on the streets. But is that enough for regime change?”

She also asks, “And will that regime change actually help?” noting that there is no historical evidence that external intervention in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, or Libya has ever successfully fostered democracy.

This and a lot more. Tune in!

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