Fresh uncertainty has emerged over India’s proposed white-ball tour of Bangladesh, raising new questions over the status of the six-match series even as discussions continue over a revised international calendar that could help accommodate the fixtures.
According to a report by Cricbuzz journalist Vijay Tagore, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has yet to release the Expression of Interest (EoI) documents for the series’ worldwide media rights despite announcing the tender process earlier this month, fuelling speculation that the plans may have encountered fresh obstacles.
Media rights process pauses after initial launch
As previously reported by cricexec, the BCB launched the worldwide media-rights tender for its 2026-27 home international programme on July 1, with the proposed India series included in the package and bids originally scheduled to close on July 22.
However, the Expression of Interest documents have still not been issued, prompting questions over the delay.
A BCB source told Cricbuzz in Dhaka: “We have not issued the EoI documents because there has been a slight change in plans. We are now assessing the market before inviting bids.”
The same source added: “It is not true that we are withholding the EoI documents because of the India series.”
The report noted that several explanations have been discussed, including the possibility that the final schedule has yet to be agreed, while another suggestion is that conversations between officials from the BCCI and BCB during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh may have influenced the process. With the match dates yet to be finalised, the BCB is understood to be unable to complete the tender documentation.
Approval discussions continue
At the same time, a report by The Times of India suggested the proposed tour is moving closer to approval, with scheduling adjustments under discussion to create room in India’s international calendar.
The report said the planned three-match T20I series against Afghanistan could be pushed back by a few days following India’s Test series against Sri Lanka, creating a window for Bangladesh to host the six-match white-ball series in September.
A senior Bangladesh Cricket Board official told The Times of India: “We are hopeful about the tour. We haven’t got the green signal as yet from the BCCI, but they also have not said they are not coming. So we are hoping to get a positive response from the BCCI soon.”
The report also noted that India’s decision to resume issuing tourist visas to Bangladeshi citizens earlier this month, nearly two years after the suspension following political unrest in 2024, has added to the optimism surrounding the proposed tour.
Tamim remains optimistic
The bilateral series was originally scheduled for last year before being deferred amid political tensions between the two countries. After being appointed a BCB Director, Tamim Iqbal said he remained confident that the fixtures would eventually go ahead.
Tamim told The Times of India: “There is a scheduled series against India later this year. I am very hopeful that India will come and play the series. This is one bilateral series that the people of Bangladesh really enjoy watching. Bangladesh did really well in the last series against India.”
While optimism remains within Bangladesh, the latest developments indicate that several administrative and scheduling matters still need to be resolved before the proposed tour receives final confirmation.
