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India Tour Of Bangladesh Unlikely To Happen Amid Diplomatic Tensions

Jatin

India is scheduled to play ODI and T20I series vs Bangladesh [Source: @Analyzer_Keshab/x.com]India is scheduled to play ODI and T20I series vs Bangladesh [Source: @Analyzer_Keshab/x.com]

The India-Bangladesh cricketing face-off might just be a non-starter this time. While there hasn’t been any official word yet, the signs are crystal clear: the much-anticipated white-ball series next month seems to be sliding off the calendar.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has quietly hit the pause button on all prep work and the buzz is that souring diplomatic ties between the two nations might be playing spoilsport.

Media Rights Put on Ice

The first major signal came when BCB stalled its media rights sale. It was all set to go under the hammer with tech bids lined up for July 7 and financials due on July 10. But now? No ITT, no movement, and a lot of waiting.

Broadcasters are already murmuring that the India series is off the table for now. While the BCB still dreams of rescheduling the cash-rich series, for now they are only selling rights for the upcoming Pakistan T20I series from July 17-25.

"They have informed us that there is no India series. After announcing the tender, they did not provide the ITT. They are selling, for now, only for the Pakistan series," an Indian broadcaster told Cricbuzz.

The ITT, or Invitation to Tender, was supposed to be available for purchase from June 15 to July 6, priced at USD 3,000. With no India series on the table, the process has now been deferred. This is another nail in the coffin for what was once a promising tour plan.

Government Mood Dampens Prospects

Moreover, it seems the Indian government isn't too keen on sending the Men in Blue across the border. With current tensions high, sources suggest BCCI has been unofficially advised to hold back. No surprise then that dates from August 17 to 31, originally earmarked for 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is, are now up in the air.

BCCI-Bangladesh Talks On, But Clock's Ticking

BCB and BCCI haven’t issued any joint statement yet, but insiders say a decision is expected soon. The BCB is holding out hope that the series can be slotted later.

"The date for the India series hasn't been fixed yet. They said it's difficult for them to come in August," a BCB official told Cricbuzz.

Initially, the BCB planned to sell their media rights from July 2025 to June 2027 with three distinct packages: Satellite TV, Digital OTT, and DTH. But when the India series got shaky, they rejigged the blueprint to allow more flexible territory-wise bids. Even that couldn’t save the India series block which was a key magnet for global bidders.

Diplomatic Chill Hurts More Than Just Cricket

Interestingly, while India has denied Bangladesh a tour window, the Narendra Modi-led government green-lit Pakistan’s hockey team for the Asia Cup in Bihar this August. It paints a clear picture: multilateral, yes; bilateral with ‘unfriendly’ neighbours, not quite.

Clearly, the show must go on. But as far as India-Bangladesh goes, the cricketing field looks empty and uncertain for now.