Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ;  August 9: Will Team India finally travel to Bangladesh to play a bilateral cricket series? India were scheduled to tour Bangladesh in July 2025, but the tour did not take place. Since then, Bangladesh has repeatedly expressed its desire to host India, particularly after changes in the country's political and cricketing landscape. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has once again approached the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Indian board is now reportedly considering taking the matter forward.

However, any final decision on India's proposed Bangladesh tour will depend entirely on the Indian government's approval. The BCCI is expected to approach the Narendra Modi-led government seeking permission to send the Indian team to Bangladesh for the series. The development could mark a significant step towards restoring bilateral cricketing ties between the two countries.

India's proposed tour of Bangladesh had been put on hold amid political instability in the neighbouring country and growing anti-India sentiment. The previous government led by Muhammad Yunus had maintained a greater distance from India on several fronts, and cricketing relations were also affected by the strained atmosphere.

Following the change in government and the arrival of Tarique Rahman's government this year, Bangladesh has shown greater interest in improving relations with India, including in the field of cricket. The Bangladesh Cricket Board is hopeful that India will agree to travel to the country for a white-ball series scheduled for September.

According to the proposed programme, Bangladesh is hoping to host India for three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals. The Bangladesh board has made repeated requests to the BCCI regarding the proposed series and has been waiting for a response from the Indian side.

The latest development suggests that the BCCI is now preparing to formally take up the issue with the Indian government. A source familiar with the matter said that discussions are already underway within the Indian cricket board and that permission will be sought from the government before any decision is taken.

“We are working on the matter. We will seek permission regarding the Bangladesh tour. At this stage, we cannot take a decision ourselves. No decision has been taken yet. However, we will take the matter to the government soon,” a source said.

The statement makes it clear that the BCCI does not have the authority to independently decide whether the Indian team should travel to Bangladesh under the current circumstances. The board will first have to receive clearance from the central government, particularly because of the political and security considerations surrounding the proposed tour.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board, meanwhile, has kept a window open from August 29 to September 15 for the proposed series. The exact dates and schedule will depend on whether the Indian government gives the necessary approval and whether the BCCI agrees to send the team.

The proposed tour has also been a subject of considerable interest in Bangladesh. BCB President Tamim Iqbal has repeatedly expressed his desire to see India play in Bangladesh and has said that the board has already communicated with the BCCI regarding the series.

Recently, Tamim Iqbal said that the Bangladesh Cricket Board had sent an email to the BCCI regarding the India series and expressed hope that the Indian team would travel to Bangladesh.

“We have emailed the BCCI regarding the India series. Hopefully, they will come to play. Whenever India comes, there is additional excitement among everyone in the country. From spectators to journalists, everyone eagerly waits for such a series,” Tamim Iqbal said.

The BCB president also attempted to reassure the Indian side about the security situation in Bangladesh. He said that Bangladesh is currently a very safe country and indicated that the cricket board was doing everything within its authority to facilitate the proposed tour.

“Bangladesh is now a very safe country. As BCB president, I also have certain limitations. From our side, we are doing everything that needs to be done,” Tamim said.

The proposed series is significant for both cricket boards because India-Bangladesh bilateral contests have developed a strong following over the years. Matches between the two teams attract considerable attention from fans, broadcasters and sponsors, making the potential return of the Indian team to Bangladesh an important event for the country's cricketing calendar.

For the BCCI, however, the issue extends beyond cricketing considerations. The board's decision will be closely linked to the assessment of the Indian government, particularly regarding the political environment and security situation in Bangladesh. As a result, the final call will rest with the government rather than the cricket board alone.

The BCCI's expected approach to the government therefore marks an important development after months of uncertainty over the proposed tour. While there is no official confirmation yet that India will travel to Bangladesh, the possibility of the series being revived has gained momentum with the Indian board preparing to seek government permission.

The situation will become clearer once the BCCI formally approaches the government and receives a response. Until then, the proposed three-match ODI and three-match T20I series remains subject to approval.

For Bangladesh, hosting India would represent a major boost to its cricketing calendar and could also help strengthen bilateral sporting ties. For Indian cricket, any decision to tour Bangladesh will require careful consideration of the prevailing circumstances.

At present, the BCCI has not taken a final decision. The next major step is expected to be its formal request to the Indian government. If permission is granted, the two boards can then proceed with discussions over dates, venues, security arrangements and the final schedule. The proposed window from August 29 to September 15 has therefore become particularly important as both sides wait for the Indian government's decision on the much-discussed Bangladesh tour.