India-Bangladesh white-ball series in limbo as BCCI waits for government clearance

India’s proposed white-ball tour of Bangladesh later this year has been placed on hold, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) awaiting clearance from the Indian government amid escalating political tensions between the two nations.

The uncertainty has already had a direct impact on the Indian Premier League. The BCCI recently asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, a request the franchise has accepted. KKR have been informed they can seek a replacement, which the board will approve if required.

The pause on the tour has raised fresh questions over the future of bilateral cricket between India and Bangladesh. Some observers fear the relationship could mirror the India–Pakistan situation, where the two sides no longer contest bilateral series and meet only in multinational tournaments at neutral venues.

Despite the current impasse, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday released its international calendar, which still features India’s tour in August–September 2026, comprising three ODIs and three T20 Internationals. However, given the prevailing situation, the fate of that series remains uncertain.

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According to reports, a senior BCCI official reiterated that touring another country requires explicit approval from the Indian government, and as of now, the Bangladesh visit has not been cleared. The official added that there is no change to plans for Bangladesh’s participation in matches scheduled to be played in India during the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the decision regarding Mustafizur Rahman, citing the broader developments affecting relations between the two countries. He emphasized that the move was precautionary and procedural, linked to the evolving situation rather than cricketing considerations alone.