Bangladesh Cricket Board Unilaterally Decides India Tour Future

Tamim Iqbal and Devajit Saikia [Source: AFP and X]

The India vs Bangladesh white-ball series has been long overdue, especially after the T20 World Cup 2026 drama. The Bangladesh Cricket Board avoided crossing paths with the Men in Blue in any cricket match, resulting in the cancellation of a bilateral series scheduled to take place after the major ICC event concluded.

However, as per recent reports, the BCB have now expressed heavy interest in having a six-match white-ball series with India, most likely in the month of September 2026. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has yet to respond, but the tender issued by BCB appears very promising.

BCB hints unilateral move with latest television and digital rights sale EoI

The Bangladesh Cricket Board have interestingly released a tender inviting expressions of interest for the matches in 2026 and 2027 that specifically mentioned the India tour this year. 

Earlier Tamim Iqbal indicated towards building a healthy relationship between the two countries, however, this tender release hints at the fact that the BCB officials have finally agreed unilaterally on playing a series with the neighbour.

In the tender, as per CricBuzz, BCB have invited bids for the sale of the rights to the upcoming tours. 

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has invited Expressions of Interest (EOIs) along with financial bids from reputed TV broadcasters, digital platforms, marketing agencies, consortiums, and firms interested in securing the worldwide media rights for its upcoming bilateral international home series,” the tender read.

The EOI document will be available to be collected from the Dhaka office from July 2 onwards, and the last date to submit the application for bids by interested parties is July 22. 

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“The EOI document, containing the complete bidding process, tentative series itinerary, prescribed financial proposal format, and other relevant details, will be available from July 2, 2026,” the tender further read.

Interestingly, the EOI had the mention of the India series as one of the top markers of the sale.

"The series covered under the EoI are:

01. India Team's Tour of Bangladesh 2026 (03 ODI and 03 T20I)

02. West Indies Team's Tour of Bangladesh 2026 (02 Test)

03. England Team's Tour of Bangladesh 2027 (02 Test)

04. Pakistan Team's Tour of Bangladesh 2027 (05 ODI)."

Bangladesh vs India series set to take place after a month?

Since the BCB have put up the EOI with the six-match white ball series as one of the main attractions of the sale for the interested parties, it is very likely that the board have communicated with the BCCI before putting it out on the tender.

An official notice, issuing a Bangladesh vs India series, seems to seal the possibility of finally having a tour that was postponed earlier. 

The BCB, in response to the boycott of Indian venues in the T20 World Cup 2026, terminated the probable action after the tournament and is now mulling over the series with a fresh approach.

Did BCCI agree to Tamim Iqbal-led BCB's approach?

The leadership change in the BCB might have also been one of the factors that could accelerate the healthy ties between the two cricket boards that were earlier turned bitter by ex-President Aminul Islam Bulbul. 

With Tamim Iqbal at the helm, the BCB have now unilaterally agreed to play an India series, at least that's what the tender verifies. More importantly, the BCCI is yet to comment on this development.

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