India tour of Bangladesh? BCB seeks bids

Is the series against Bangladesh back on track? While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has steadfastly remained non-committal on the matter, the latest developments could be suggestive of something on this front. The six-match white-ball series could, after all, go ahead in September.

In a rather surprising development, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCCI) has put the television and digital media rights of the series up for sale. In a communication to the Indian broadcasters, the BCB has sought expressions of interest for the home internationals in 2026 and 2027 with a specific mention of the India tour in 2026. Cricbuzz has accessed the tender.

It reads, "The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) invites Expression of Interest (EOI) along with financial offers from reputable TV Broadcasters, Digital Platforms and Marketing Agencies / Consortiums / Firms for acquiring the Worldwide Media Rights of the following Bilateral International Home Series." On top of the list is the mention of the India series.

The series was originally scheduled for last year but was postponed because of diplomatic issues between the two countries. Since then, both the government in Bangladesh and the administration of the BCB have changed.

The BCB and BCCI were not immediately available for a comment but the recent turn of events and comments could be seen as an indication towards this. The BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia recently told PTI that the Indian board was not concerned with the regime at the BCB and would be guided by the advice of the Government of India.

What could be further adding to the possibility is the BCCI's recent decision not to accommodate the three additional T20Is in Sri Lanka this August, a request that the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had been pursuing. That window may now be utilized in Bangladesh.

The tender says that the EOI document will be available in the BCB office from July 2 and interested parties should submit the bid by July 22. The relevant part of the document says: "The details of the EOI process, the Tentative Series Itinerary, the Prescribed Format for the Submission of the Financial Proposal and other relevant information shall be set out in the EOI document, which will be available from 2nd July 2026."

On the submission of the bids, it notes: "The EOI along with the Financial Proposal (prepared in accordance with the requirements set out in the EOI Document), must be submitted in the prescribed format issued by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Hard copy submissions must be delivered to the BCB Management Office at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur-2, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh by 22nd of July 2026 during office hours (between BST 10:00 to BST 17:00)."

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