India and Bangladesh are likely to restart the white-ball bilateral series following a year of strained diplomatic and cricketing relations between the two nations.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is reported to have officially launched the bidding process for satellite and digital media rights for the upcoming series against India.
As per the earlier schedule, India’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh in 2026 comprises three ODIs and three T20Is each. The official date of the limited overs series is yet to be confirmed. But several reports claimed that both teams could face off against each other in the September 2026 window.
The forthcoming Bangladesh vs India series promises a potential revival of cricketing ties between the two nations. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has maintained a neutral stance by not providing any clarity over the matter.
BCB’s Statement On Opening Formal Bidding Process
On Wednesday (July 01, 2026), the BCB took a huge initiative by formally revealing the bidding process, signalling India’s potential visit:
“Yes! Along with the financial offers, BCB invites Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from top-tier TV broadcasters, digital platforms, consortiums, marketing agencies, and firms interested in acquiring media rights globally for the upcoming bilateral international series.
This home series, hosted in Bangladesh, features the men’s national cricket team during the 2026-27 cycle,” the BCB statement read.
BCB Tender Process: EOI Document Timeline and Submission Details
The tender outlines that the Expression of Interest (EOI) document will be made available at the BCB office from July 02nd (Thursday) onwards. Furthermore, interested bidders are required to submit their proposals by July 22nd (Monday).
Mainly, the EOI document includes:
- Bidding process details
- Tentative match schedule
- Format for the financial proposals submissions
- Other relevant information.
As per the tender, the series listed under the EOI are explained in a tabular form for simpler understanding:
| S.No | Series | Number of Matches |
| 1. | India’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh 2026 | 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is |
| 2. | West Indies red-ball tour of Bangladesh 2026 | 2 Tests |
| 3. | England’s red-ball tour of Bangladesh 2027 | 2 Tests |
| 4. | Pakistan’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh 2027 | 5 ODIs |
The EOI and financial proposal must be submitted as a hard copy to the BCB management office as per the specified format, adhering to the cut-off date and timings:
- Last date for submission: 22nd July 2026 (Monday)
- Cut-off time: During working hours (between 10 AM and 5 PM BST)
- Venue: Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium in Mirpur (Dhaka).
BCCI Denied Extra T20Is in Sri Lanka: An Opportunity for BCB
On June 28 (Sunday), BCCI rejected Sri Lanka Cricket’s (SLC) request to play an additional three T20I matches in India’s forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka this August.
The SLC has put forward a charity initiative to generate relief funds for the victims affected by Cyclone Ditwah’s destruction.
The SLC officials hoped that by hosting the Indian team for a short T20I series could attract a massive fan crowd and generate substantial income required to support post-cyclone recovery efforts.
As the BCCI declined SLC’s proposal, Bangladesh utilized the two-week window between India’s bilateral series against Sri Lanka and their other international commitments. To host the postponed white-ball series.
Potential Revival of India-Bangladesh Postponed Bilateral Series
For the unversed, the India vs Bangladesh series was originally scheduled for last year, in August.
The increase in political tensions between the two nations and the massive protests in Dhaka prompted BCCI to cancel the series.
Although the Indian cricket board cited busy international commitments and a tightly packed calendar, the security and diplomatic concerns were indeed the main reason for the cancellation.
Amidst the political turmoil in Bangladesh, the situation became more complicated when the BCCI instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise to remove Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of IPL 2026. As a consequence, Bangladesh opted out of the T20 World Cup 2026, citing security concerns.
At one stage, it seemed like cricket wasn’t being ignored; rather, the relationship between both nations had completely stopped moving forward without any progress.
As of July 2026, the Bangladeshi government and BCB administration have changed, which reignites hopes for the limited-overs series to take place.
BCCI’s Neutral Stance on Playing Series against Bangladesh
Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, clarified that the Indian cricket board is dedicated to managing cricketing activities and does not interfere in the political conflicts between the neighbouring countries. Here is what the 57-year-old explained, conveying that BCCI remains non-committal in such matters:
“See! BCCI is a cricket governing body that has nothing to do with political matters. Remember that the BCCI will follow the Indian government’s policy regarding participation in bilateral and multi-nation tournaments,” Saikia said.
Also Read: Harare Test Defeat: Najmul Hossain Shanto Urges Bangladesh to Stronger Improvement!
Final Opinion
Neither the BCCI nor the BCB immediately responded. But the recent developments and remarks indicate that India’s tour of Bangladesh could take place.
However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia too clarified that the board is not concerned with BCB’s leadership and would act according to the Indian government’s instructions.
