The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has invited Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and financial offers for the worldwide media rights of its bilateral international home series involving the Bangladesh National Cricket Team (Men) during 2026–27. This development follows a period of strained cricketing ties between India and Bangladesh, which are now anticipated to normalise.
The tender document specifically targets reputable TV broadcasters, digital platforms, marketing agencies, consortiums, and firms for the acquisition of these rights. The series covered under this EOI are scheduled to be hosted in Bangladesh.
Series included in the tender
The EOI covers several significant bilateral international home series for the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. These include:
- India Team’s Tour of Bangladesh 2026, featuring 3 ODI and 3 T20i matches.
- West Indies Team’s Tour of Bangladesh 2026, comprising 2 Test matches.
- England Team’s Tour of Bangladesh 2027, also consisting of 2 Test matches.
- Pakistan Team’s Tour of Bangladesh 2027, which will include 5 ODI matches.
The inclusion of the India tour in the tender document is particularly noteworthy, given recent tensions between the two cricketing nations. The BCB had previously paused the sale process of its media rights for the next two years after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) cancelled a tour in 2025.
Recent cricketing relations
Cricketing relations between India and Bangladesh have faced challenges, including the cancellation of a 6-game white-ball series scheduled for August 2025 by the BCCI. This cancellation was attributed to packed international commitments, following diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Protests in Dhaka over India‘s actions and extradition demands for Bangladesh‘s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were cited as contributing factors to the strained relations.
Further events, such as Mustafizur Rahman‘s snub from the Kolkata Knight Riders and Bangladesh‘s refusal to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026 due to security concerns, also impacted the relationship. However, the current tender for media rights signals a potential recovery in these ties, with hopes that the postponed series can now proceed.
The BCB‘s decision to resume the sale of television and digital media rights is seen as a significant step. The India tour is considered a valuable asset, and the BCB was reportedly awaiting formal approval from the BCCI in 2025 to continue with the media rights sale. The resumption of this process suggests that the Indian cricket board may have privately approved the series.
Bidding process and future outlook
The formal bidding process for these media rights is scheduled to commence on July 2, with a reported deadline for submissions on July 22. The full EOI document will be available at the BCB‘s Dhaka office starting July 2.
The BCCI has maintained that its decisions regarding bilateral and multinational sporting events are guided by directives from the Indian government, rather than internal political changes within other cricket boards. A BCCI secretary clarified that the board’s role is to run cricket and follow the policies set by the Government of India concerning participation in international events.
While the BCCI has not provided a definitive stance on the exact dates for India‘s potential trip to Bangladesh, recent developments suggest that the postponed six-match white-ball series could potentially take place in September of the current year. This renewed activity around media rights and tour scheduling indicates a positive shift in the cricketing landscape between the two nations.
The tender document explicitly mentions India‘s tour among the list of bilateral home series, alongside tours from the West Indies in 2026 and England and Pakistan in 2027.
Read Also
Source: tigercricket.com.bd
