India have postponed their upcoming white-ball tour of Bangladesh in August by a year. Here’s why.
Earlier in April, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had announced hosting India for three ODIs on August 17, 20 and 23, followed by T20Is on August 26, 29 and 31. The white-ball matches were supposed to be held across Mirpur and Chattogram.
India’s entire white-ball tour to its neighbouring nation has now been postponed to September 2026, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced in a statement on Saturday.
Why is India's tour of Bangladesh postponed?
The statement released by the BCCI says that they and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reached a mutual agreement, "taking into account the international cricketing commitments and scheduling convenience of both teams."
Shubman Gill stands tall among an elite group⭐️#ShubmanGill #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/w3K06IvtXE
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 4, 2025
While the two boards cited "scheduling convenience" as the reason for postponing the white-ball series, a Cricbuzz report suggests the deteriorating diplomatic relations with Bangladesh prompted India to avoid sending its team to the neighbouring country.
"Relations have visibly and perceptibly got strained in recent times, with the Indian government adopting a tough stance toward its eastern neighbour. Security concerns also appear to be a factor, although the joint statement makes no mention of it," the Cricbuzz report mentioned.
Recent diplomatic tensions between the two countries have escalated following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year amid large-scale anti-government protests. Bangladesh are understood to have sent a formal extradition request to India for Hasina’s return.
In June, Bangladesh's Adviser of Foreign Affairs, Md Touhid Hossain, said the relationship with India is at a stage of "readjustment".
Also read: Explained: The Shakib murder mystery and what's next for the Bangladesh all-rounder
Bangladesh is currently governed by an interim administration under Nobel laureate & chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, whose tenure will last until the next general elections are held to facilitate a peaceful transfer of power.
An India Today report also attributed the tour postponement to diplomatic tensions, while a PTI journalist stated, "India will only tour Bangladesh after its general elections conclude and a stable government is established."
and while it has been deferred to september 2026, India will only tour after Bangladesh conducts its general elections and there is a stable government in place taking care of law and order situation https://t.co/rS3SmMvlp8
— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) July 5, 2025
