Bangladesh seeks September 2026 cricket series with India

Bangladesh remains hopeful of hosting India for a bilateral cricket series in September, with officials pointing to sports diplomacy as a key tool to mend strained relations between the two nations. The optimism follows a period of tension that led to the postponement of the tour and Bangladesh's withdrawal from the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

The diplomatic friction began after the Board of Control for Cricket in India instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season. In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board pulled its national team from the T20 World Cup in India, citing security concerns despite assurances from the International Cricket Council. This move saw Bangladesh replaced by Scotland in the tournament.

Speaking on Tuesday, July 21, Bangladesh's State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque, said the government is prioritizing sporting engagement to ease tensions. He stated that the current government is giving utmost importance to sports diplomacy and noted that cricket holds a place of prestige for the country. Haque added that officials have held discussions with the Indian...