India’s proposed ODI and T20I tour of Bangladesh in September 2026 has been put on hold by the Board of Control for Cricket in India amid rising political tensions, with the final call now resting on Indian government clearance.
A senior BCCI official confirmed that India did not tour Bangladesh last year either, and any overseas tour requires approval from the government. For now, the Bangladesh series remains uncertain and could be dropped from the calendar altogether.
The official clarified that the uncertainty around the bilateral tour will not affect global events. Bangladesh’s matches in the T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in India, will go ahead as planned without any change.
The tense backdrop has also impacted the IPL. The BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad, and the franchise complied with the order.
KKR had bought Mustafizur for ₹9.20 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, making him the only Bangladesh player picked this season. His signing later came under heavy scrutiny after the killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh.
Public pressure on both the BCCI and KKR increased, with Shah Rukh Khan also facing criticism as the team’s co-owner. The issue quickly moved beyond cricket, drawing political and social reactions.
In an official statement, KKR said, “Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI, as the regulator of IPL, has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad. The release has been carried out following due process.”
The BCCI’s approach is being compared to India’s long-standing stance on Pakistan. India has not toured Pakistan since 2006 and Pakistani players have not been allowed to play in the IPL due to ongoing cross-border tensions.
Officials suggest Bangladesh could now face similar restrictions if the situation does not improve. Cricketing ties may be limited to ICC events, while bilateral tours and league participation remain under review.
For Bangladesh cricket, this development raises concerns over future engagements with India, both on the international calendar and in franchise leagues, as off-field events continue to influence on-field decisions.