The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently awaiting a decision from the Indian government regarding the scheduled tour of Bangladesh, even after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the schedule. The tour, which includes three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), was set to take place in Bangladesh in September. However, amidst rising political tensions between the two nations, the BCCI has decided to put the series on hold.

A top BCCI official stated that the board requires approval from the Indian government to play in any other country, making the Bangladesh tour uncertain. The BCCI will communicate the Indian government's decision to the BCB in due course. This situation has raised concerns that the cricketing relationship between India and Bangladesh could mirror that of India and Pakistan, where bilateral series are not held, and the teams only compete in multi-nation tournaments at neutral venues.

Adding to the uncertainty, the BCCI has instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, to release Mustafizur Rahman, a Bangladeshi player, from their squad. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia cited "recent developments" as the reason for this decision. The franchise has been assured that they can request a replacement for Rahman, which the BCCI will allow. Some political figures have welcomed the decision, attributing it to the protection of national sentiment amid concerns about the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Bangladesh tour, there are no changes to the plans for the T20 World Cup 2026. Bangladesh is expected to participate in the tournament as per the scheduled games in India.

India and Sri Lanka are jointly hosting the Men's T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled from February 7 to March 8. The BCCI has submitted a proposed schedule to the International Cricket Council (ICC), outlining matches across five major Indian cities. Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium is likely to host the final. Due to ongoing political tensions, Pakistan's team will play all their fixtures in Sri Lanka. The ICC is finalizing one host city in Sri Lanka for Pakistan's matches. The match between India and Pakistan is set to take place on February 15th at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The BCCI's decision-making process reflects the complex interplay of sports, politics, and international relations. While the fate of the Bangladesh tour hangs in the balance, the BCCI remains committed to its responsibilities as a major player in international cricket, including co-hosting the T20 World Cup 2026.