BCB Seeks Government Support to Ensure India Tour

Bangladesh's hopes of hosting India for a long-awaited white-ball series have been clouded by fresh uncertainty after reports suggested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering staging a three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan in Delhi next month.

The development has raised fresh doubts over India's revised tour of Bangladesh, which had already been postponed by a year. The original three-ODI and three-T20I series, initially scheduled for last year, was deferred by mutual agreement and rescheduled for later this month.

If the Afghanistan series goes ahead, it could create a scheduling clash, once again putting India's Bangladesh tour at risk.

In an effort to keep the tour on track, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal met senior government officials on Thursday (30 July), seeking government-level engagement with India to reassure New Delhi that Bangladesh is prepared to host the Indian men's team in September.

Tamim was accompanied by BCB Security Committee chairman Sayeed Ibrahim during a meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at her office.

While confirming the meeting, Tamim declined to disclose further details.

According to international media reports, BCB officials have urged the government to communicate directly with Indian authorities, as the board has yet to receive formal confirmation regarding the tour. Under the current schedule, India is expected to visit Bangladesh in September for a six-match white-ball series comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.

Speaking on 29 July, Tamim said the BCB remained optimistic about the tour but acknowledged that certain aspects were beyond the board's control and would require government-level intervention if necessary.

The Bangladesh-India series was originally scheduled for 2024 but was postponed following political unrest in Bangladesh. Although it was initially pushed back to 2025, uncertainty persisted amid strained relations between the two cricket boards.

Despite the lack of final confirmation, recent geopolitical developments have fuelled optimism that the series could finally go ahead.

One such development was India's invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi this September, which has been viewed by many as a positive signal for bilateral ties.

The timing of the BCB's outreach to the government is also notable. On 29 July, Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman said Bangladesh and India had agreed to reset and strengthen bilateral relations on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual interests.

His remarks came after the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh paid a courtesy call on him.

"We both agree that our two countries' relations should move forward, keeping mutual interests at the forefront and, as I always say, on the basis of sovereign equality," Khalilur told reporters at the Foreign Ministry, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

Responding to a question about India's invitation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the upcoming BRICS Summit, the foreign minister said the government was reviewing the invitation.