India’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh in august has been thrown into doubt after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) failed to receive clearance from the central government in Delhi.
According to a report by BBC Bangla, the series is unlikely to go ahead on time, with political tensions between the two countries cited as the main reason.
India were due to play three ODIs and three T20Is between 17 and 31 august in Dhaka and Chattogram. The fixtures had been announced two months in advance, but Delhi is reportedly reluctant to send the team amid what it views as a “frosty diplomatic climate” and concerns over Bangladesh’s internal situation.
Senior Indian government sources told BBC Bangla that the tour would not send a positive message at this time. The Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to issue the mandatory travel clearance, making a postponement highly probable.
Despite the uncertainty, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remains keen to host the matches as scheduled. Speaking after a board meeting on 30 June, BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul said, “We’re preparing for the series as per the original schedule. If India can’t come in august, we’ll try to rearrange the series at a later time.”
The BCCI has already opened formal discussions with the BCB about rescheduling. The Indian board has proposed a possible window after the IPL in 2026, though that would push the tour back by nearly a year.
Meanwhile, the Indian press has linked the delay to controversial political remarks by a former Bangladeshi military officer and recent incidents involving attacks on Hindu temples. Delhi reportedly believes the current environment is not favourable for a bilateral series.
In contrast, India allowed Bangladesh to complete a full tour last year despite similar tensions. That visit included two Tests and three T20Is in September–October 2024, though it went ahead only under heightened security and saw protests from right-wing groups in several Indian cities.
If the upcoming series is postponed, it would mark the first time political concerns have disrupted cricket ties between the two nations.
The Asia Cup, set for September in the UAE, is not expected to be affected, with both India and Bangladesh scheduled to take part.