The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has initiated the bidding process for media rights covering its men’s home international cricket calendar for 2026-27. This tender includes a postponed white-ball series against India, which has generated discussions regarding the potential resumption of bilateral cricket ties between the two nations.
The BCB‘s move is seen as an effort to revitalise bilateral cricket engagements with India. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has maintained a non-committal stance, awaiting diplomatic clearance before proceeding with any such series.
Upcoming Home Series and Diplomatic Context
The tour by India to Bangladesh was originally slated for August 2025 but was rescheduled to September 2026. This postponement followed a period of diplomatic tension between the two countries. Earlier in the year, relations were reportedly strained after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise released Mustafizur Rahman, reportedly on BCCI‘s instructions. Additionally, Bangladesh declined to travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026, citing security concerns.
The media rights tender, outlined in an Expression of Interest (EOI), invites bids from various entities including TV broadcasters, digital platforms, marketing agencies, consortiums, and firms globally. These bids are for the worldwide media rights for the specified home series.
The series against India, which is a key component of the tender, is expected to feature three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals (T20Is). This six-match series is provisionally scheduled for September 2026, although official confirmation of the fixtures is still pending.
Beyond the India series, the media rights package also encompasses other significant home assignments for Bangladesh. These include a two-match Test series against the West Indies, a two-match Test series against England, and a five-match ODI series against Pakistan.
Bidding documents for these rights became available on July 2, with the BCB setting a submission deadline of July 22 for all interested parties.
BCCI’s Stance on Bilateral Ties
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia recently clarified the board’s position on resuming bilateral and multinational sporting ties with Bangladesh. He stated that the BCCI would adhere strictly to the directives issued by the Government of India.
Saikia emphasised that the BCCI operates as a cricketing controlling board and does not involve itself in the political affairs of other nations. He noted that the board follows the policies set by the Government of India concerning participation in bilateral and multinational sporting events, similar to other sports federations.
He further added that the political landscape or the nature of the government in Bangladesh does not influence the BCCI‘s decisions. Saikia reiterated that the BCCI‘s primary role is to manage cricket and that scheduled tours to foreign countries for bilateral matches would proceed according to established plans and schedules.
Details of the Media Rights Invitation
The BCB‘s invitation for Expressions of Interest, along with financial offers, specifically targets the acquisition of worldwide media rights for the bilateral international home series involving the Bangladesh National Cricket Team (Men) during the 2026–27 period. These matches are slated to be hosted in Bangladesh.
The series covered under this EOI are:
- India Team‘s Tour of Bangladesh 2026 (three ODI and three T20I matches)
- West Indies Team‘s Tour of Bangladesh 2026 (two Test matches)
- England Team‘s Tour of Bangladesh 2027 (two Test matches)
- Pakistan Team‘s Tour of Bangladesh 2027 (five ODI matches)
Media reports have indicated that the tender provides an early look at Bangladesh‘s international home schedule for the next two years, even though the BCB has not yet officially announced the full schedule.
The inclusion of a five-match ODI series against Pakistan in 2027 signifies another important bilateral assignment for Bangladesh as they continue to finalise their future international calendar. Pakistan last toured Bangladesh earlier this year, playing a three-match ODI series in March and a two-match Test series in May.
The BCB‘s media rights tender process commenced with bidding documents becoming available on July 2.
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Source: circleofcricket.com
