Bangladesh Engages Indian Embassy to 'Overcome Tension,' Eyes September For IND vs BAN 2026 Series Against India: Report
Bangladesh is actively seeking to revive bilateral cricket ties with India, with State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque confirming discussions with the Indian Embassy. A white-ball series comprising three ODIs and three T20Is is proposed for September 2026, aiming to mend relations strained by the Mustafizur Rahman IPL controversy and.
In a significant diplomatic push, Bangladesh is making concerted efforts to restore and strengthen its cricketing ties with India, with a crucial six-match white-ball series firmly on the agenda for September 2026. Bangladesh's State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, confirmed on Tuesday that the nation has formally engaged with the Indian Embassy, expressing strong optimism about overcoming past tensions to host the highly anticipated series. India-Bangladesh Cricket Set To Resume in September? BCB Reported Floats Media Tender For IND vs BAN White-Ball Series.
'The current government is giving utmost importance to sports diplomacy,' Haque was quoted as saying, highlighting cricket's significant standing for Bangladesh on the global stage. 'We have already spoken to the Indian Embassy, they have also spoken to us and they are all waiting for India to come to Bangladesh in September', Haque stated in his presser as per Cricbuzz.
Acknowledging Past Strains
The push to revive bilateral cricket comes after a period of considerable strain between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which escalated into diplomatic friction earlier this year. The controversy originated from the BCCI's decision to instruct the Kolkata Knight Riders to withdraw Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League, citing 'wider sensitivities' and security concerns in India following mob violence against minority communities in Bangladesh. This move triggered a strong reaction from Bangladesh, leading to their unprecedented boycott of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, citing security concerns for its players. Scotland subsequently replaced Bangladesh in the tournament.
This diplomatic standoff also resulted in the postponement of India's white-ball tour of Bangladesh, which was originally slated for August 2025. The current efforts from Dhaka signal a clear intent to move past these incidents and foster stronger regional cooperation through sports.
The Proposed Series Itinerary
The rescheduled tour is set to feature three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), a format expected to draw significant viewership given the competitive rivalry between the two cricketing nations.
According to the revised itinerary released by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Team India is expected to arrive in Bangladesh on August 28, 2026.
The proposed match schedule is as follows:
ODIs:
September 1, 2026
September 3, 2026
September 6, 2026
T20Is:
September 9, 2026
September 12, 2026
September 13, 2026
While specific venues for each match are yet to be officially confirmed, the series is expected to be played across stadiums in Bangladesh, with Dhaka being a probable host city. Former Captain Tamim Iqbal Becomes Youngest Bangladesh Cricket Board President at 37.
BCB's Proactive Steps and Broadcast Outlook
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has demonstrated its commitment to the series by initiating the media rights bidding process for its 2026–27 home season, explicitly including India's proposed tour in the tender documents. This proactive step by the BCB signals strong confidence in the tour proceeding as planned, despite the BCCI yet to make an official statement confirming the series. Sources indicate that the BCCI is approaching the situation cautiously, awaiting further developments and government clearance.
Bangladesh's last bilateral tour by India was in 2022, featuring three ODIs and two Tests. The two senior men's teams last faced each other in a Twenty20 International during a bilateral series on September 28, 2025. With the current diplomatic overtures and the BCB's preparations, all eyes are now on the BCCI for official confirmation that would cement the resumption of one of cricket's most engaging rivalries.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2026 11:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).