Punjab Newsline, Sports:
BCCI Not in Favour of September White-Ball Series, Security Concerns Take Centre Stage
India’s proposed cricket tour of Bangladesh is under serious doubt due to growing political tensions between the two countries. Sources indicate that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not keen on sending the Indian team to Bangladesh at this stage, raising the possibility that the September white-ball series could be postponed or even cancelled.
On Friday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a six-match white-ball series scheduled for September. The BCB claimed that it had consulted the BCCI before finalising the dates. As per the proposed schedule, the Indian team was set to arrive in Bangladesh on August 28 and play three One-Day Internationals on September 1, 3 and 6. This was to be followed by three T20 International matches on September 9, 12 and 13.
However, the BCCI has not yet given its official approval for the tour. According to sources, the Indian board’s primary concern is the ongoing political unrest and instability in Bangladesh over the past six months. Due to similar security concerns, this series had been postponed indefinitely last year as well.
Following indications of BCCI’s reluctance, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has called an urgent meeting to discuss its future course of action. Earlier, India had already cancelled a tour of Bangladesh amid escalating tensions between the two nations. Additionally, BCCI representatives declined to attend the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting held in Dhaka, further highlighting the strain in relations.
The BCCI’s firm stance has also been reflected in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Acting on the board’s directions, Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is scheduled to play matches in India during next month’s T20 World Cup, making the current situation particularly significant for both cricket boards.
If the situation worsens, a scenario similar to India-Pakistan relations cannot be ruled out. Due to strained ties, India and Pakistan now face each other only in ICC tournaments and that too at neutral venues. In this context, the upcoming India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match is scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka next month.
Overall, the future of India-Bangladesh bilateral cricket appears uncertain and will largely depend on how the political and security situation unfolds in the coming weeks.