The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put India’s scheduled white-ball tour of Bangladesh in August–September 2026 on hold amid rising political tensions between the two countries. The uncertainty comes after the BCCI instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad ahead of IPL 2026, a request that KKR has complied with.
The 30-year-old left-arm pacer was signed by KKR for INR 9.20 crore during last month’s auction, making him the most expensive Bangladeshi player in IPL history. Following his release, the franchise confirmed that it will be allowed to recruit a replacement player in line with IPL regulations.
The situation has cast doubt over future India–Bangladesh bilateral cricket ties, raising concerns that relations could follow a pattern similar to India–Pakistan, where the neighbours no longer play bilateral series and meet only in multi-nation tournaments at neutral venues.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul said the board has not received any formal communication from the BCCI and will monitor developments closely. “At this moment, we are aware that our counterpart is the BCCI and that Mustafizur was scheduled to play franchise cricket under ICC-sanctioned events. We will comment once we receive official notification,” he said.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the bilateral series, the T20 World Cup schedule remains unchanged. Bangladesh will still play its matches in India as planned, with no adjustments expected at this stage.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the release of Mustafizur, citing rising tensions between the two nations. “The BCCI has instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. A replacement player can be signed if needed, and this will be approved in line with IPL regulations,” Saikia told ANI.
The BCB unveiled its international calendar on 01 January 2026, listing three ODIs and three T20Is against India in the August–September window. However, with the current situation, the tour’s status is now uncertain.
