BCB confident to host India in September, delays broadcaster documents for best offers

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has signalled confidence that India's postponed white-ball tour will happen in September 2026, even as the board manages media rights negotiations with a July 22 bidding deadline. If the tour indeed happens, India are earmarked to play three ODIs on September 1, 3 and 6, followed by three T20Is on September 9, 12 and 13 in what is poised to be the first bilateral T20I series between the nations held in Bangladesh.

The BCB initiated its media rights bidding process on July 1 with tender notification but withheld the formal Expression of Interest documents, creating uncertainty among prospective broadcasters worldwide, particularly in India. The board has set July 22 as the submission deadline for bids from television channels, digital streaming platforms and marketing agencies seeking worldwide media rights to the series.

"The board is quite optimistic that the Indian team's scheduled tour will go ahead. We are taking a little more time to ensure we receive the best possible offers from interested broadcasters before releasing the EoI documents," a senior BCB official told Revsportz. dismissing the worries about the tour's viability.

The board's cautious approach stems from market assessment, according to BCB sources. The deliberate timing allows the Bangladesh board to gauge interest levels and positioning before formal bidding documents become public, potentially unlocking higher valuations for the rights package. Postponement of the original August 2025 tour with the Indian team created a lengthy gap, and the board is keen to maximise revenue from rescheduling.

The Indian board, meanwhile, has maintained a measured stance on tour confirmation. The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, said the board will follow the Government of India policy regarding bilateral sporting ties with the neighbouring country.

"The BCCI is a cricketing controlling board, and we have nothing to do with what is going on politically in other countries. Our job is to run cricket. Whenever there is a scheduled tour to a foreign country for bilateral matches, we will proceed according to our plans and schedules," Saikia was quoted as saying by India TV.

The immediate priority is media rights finalisation by July 22, after which broadcast agreements will clarify tour logistics, including venue confirmations and squad announcements. Both boards are expected to coordinate further operational details as September approaches. India's arrival in Bangladesh is set for August 28, giving teams preparation time before the ODI series opener.