“We would be honoured to host you" - Maldives government invites Indian team to celebrate 2024 T20 World Cup win 

The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), which is a government body, in collaboration with the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) sent an official invite to the Indian cricket team to visit the island nation and celebrate their victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup on Tuesday.

The Maldives has historically been a friendly neighbor of India and is seen as a favorable holiday destination by many in the country. However, the relations were strained due to political tensions at the start of 2024, which led to social media boycotts and eventually a massive drop in Indian tourists' visits to the country.

Since then, governments on both sides have tried to manage the delicate situation while MMPRC is attempting to pacify the fires and restore tourism.

"We would be honoured to host you and ensure that your stay is filled with memorable moments, relaxation, and bespoke experiences," CEO & Managing Director of MMPRC, Mr Ibrahim Shiuree and the Secretary General of MATI, Mr. Ahmed Nazeer, said in a joint statement.

Shiuree added:

“It would be an immense honour for the Maldives to welcome the Indian Cricket Team and share in the joy of their triumph. We eagerly await the opportunity to host them, offering the perfect setting for them to create lasting memories of their victory celebration."

The press release also said that this invite was aimed to represent "long-standing cultural and sporting ties" between the two countries.

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What next for the Indian men's team?

The T20 World Cup champions had a victory parade in Mumbai soon after the tournament.

Most of the main squad members have been given a break while some, including Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shivam Dube, have gone to Zimbabwe to play in a five-match T20I series.

Skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to be rested from the next series -- Sri Lanka's tour of India -- as well. But the others would slowly be eased into action ahead of a mega Test season.