It was supposed to happen more than a year ago. Now, with a September deadline about to slip by too, cricket fans are left asking the same question: will the Bangladesh India cricket series ever actually happen? Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Tamim Iqbal broke his silence this week, insisting the long-delayed white-ball series is very much alive — just not arriving anytime soon.
A Series That’s Been Postponed Once Already
The series in question — three ODIs and three T20Is, to be hosted in Bangladesh — was originally scheduled for August 2025. It never happened. Political relations between the two countries soured sharply that year, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) subsequently said the series would instead be played in September 2026. With September now days away, there’s still no confirmed schedule, and Tamim confirmed on the YouTube channel Not Out Noman that the series will not take place in its rescheduled window either, since India already has a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan beginning September 13.
“Intentions Are Very Positive,” Says BCB Chief
Despite the repeated delays, Tamim was careful to push back on any suggestion the series has been quietly shelved. Speaking on the podcast, he said both boards remain genuinely committed to making it happen, explaining that BCCI and BCB are actively searching for a new window that fits both nations’ busy international calendars. He added that if the intentions behind the talks were negative, he wouldn’t be describing the situation with any optimism at all — a pointed way of signaling that, despite the uncertainty, the door is still open.
Why the Series Keeps Getting Pushed Back
The delays trace directly back to the political fallout following the 2024 uprising that toppled then-Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India, her longtime ally, and reportedly remains there. Cricket ties between the two boards grew further strained after the BCCI directed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL squad without explanation — a decision Tamim has previously called deeply disappointing for the entire country. Tensions escalated further in February 2026, when Bangladesh withdrew from playing its T20 World Cup matches in India altogether, citing security concerns, and was replaced by Scotland in the tournament.
Packed Calendars Aren’t Helping Either
Beyond the political backdrop, simple scheduling has become its own obstacle. Tamim noted that Bangladesh already has three other series sandwiched into its calendar, while India’s own international commitments remain equally packed. Finding a mutually workable window, he suggested, has become almost as difficult as resolving the underlying diplomatic tension itself.
A History Interrupted
India last toured Bangladesh for a bilateral series back in 2022, while Bangladesh’s most recent visit to India came in September-October 2024 — meaning the two sides haven’t played each other on Bangladeshi soil in several years. For a rivalry that once featured regularly on both countries’ cricket calendars, the current standoff marks one of the longest gaps between series in recent memory.
What Happens Next
As of now, there’s still no official statement from the BCCI confirming a new date, and Tamim’s comments make clear that “regular discussion” — rather than a finalized schedule — remains where things stand. For fans on both sides hoping to see the rivalry return to the field, the message from Dhaka this week is cautiously hopeful rather than concretely reassuring: the series isn’t cancelled, but it isn’t scheduled either.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Bangladesh-India cricket series cancelled?
No. BCB President Tamim Iqbal has confirmed the series has not been cancelled, though it will not take place in its previously planned September 2026 window and remains without a confirmed new date.
Why was the series delayed in the first place?
The series was originally scheduled for August 2025 but was postponed after political relations between Bangladesh and India soured following Bangladesh’s 2024 political upheaval, which also affected broader cricketing relations between the two boards.
When did India and Bangladesh last play a bilateral series?
India last toured Bangladesh in 2022, while Bangladesh most recently visited India in September-October 2024.
What series does the delayed matchup consist of?
The proposed series includes three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals, originally planned to be hosted in Bangladesh.
For now, cricket fans on both sides will have to keep waiting. With both boards insisting the intent remains genuine but no fixed date on the table, the Bangladesh-India series remains one of world cricket’s more curious ongoing sagas — postponed, not cancelled, and very much still in limbo.
