The uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh’s white-ball series against India has resurfaced, with the tour once again in doubt after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) halted its broadcast rights process.
The BCB had invited bids for the television and digital media rights earlier this month, signalling confidence that the August series would go ahead. But that optimism has quickly faded.
On July 1, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) invited bids for the television and digital media rights for the three-match ODI and three-match T20I series, with the bidding process scheduled to conclude on July 22. However, the Expression of Interest (EOI) document has yet to be released, raising fresh questions over the status of the tour.
According to Cricbuzz, the BCB is reviewing market conditions after making minor adjustments to its plans. A BCB source told the outlet, “We have not yet released the EOI document because there have been some minor changes to our plans. We are assessing the market before inviting bids. However, it is not true that the EOI has been delayed because of the India series.”
The delay has fuelled speculation over the reasons behind the stalled process. One suggestion is that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was unhappy that the BCB moved ahead with the media rights tender without prior discussions. Another claims officials from both boards discussed the matter during the ICC Annual Conference in Edinburgh.
The BCB had earlier announced the itinerary for the August tour, with three ODIs and three T20Is scheduled between August 1 and 13 in Bangladesh.
The series has been surrounded by uncertainty from the outset because of recent diplomatic tensions between the two countries. However, optimism had grown last month following the appointment of Dinesh Trivedi as India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, a move that was seen as a positive step towards improving bilateral ties.
