Bangladesh Cricket Board writes to BCCI after Mustafizur Rahman & T20 WC row; focus on India's tour, Asia Cup - Report

After Bangladesh refused to travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026 last month, citing security concerns, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an effort to improve relations between the two cricketing boards.

Relations between the two countries went downhill during the Mohammad Yunus-led interim Bangladesh government. However, with a new government in place under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the relations between the two countries seem to be improving.

According to a report in Dainik Jagran, the BCB's letter to the BCCI emphasized the long-standing and strong bond between the two cricket boards. The report added that the BCB asked the BCCI to revisit India's six-match white-ball tour of Bangladesh, which had been scheduled for August last year.

With Bangladesh hosting next year's Asia Cup, a step back from India could mean the continental tournament will shift to either Dubai or Sri Lanka. In that case, the BCB could suffer huge financial losses. “A BCB official also acknowledged that they have written to the BCCI, calling it a routine process,” said the report.

The BCB did not respond when LiveMint reached out for a comment.

What happened with Mustafizur Rahman?

After Mustafizur Rahman was bought by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for ₹9.20 crore during the auctions last December, the Bangladesh pacer was removed from the world's richest franchise league, following a directive from the BCCI, "citing recent developments" amid the then political tensions.

Following the unceremonious removal of Mustafizur from IPL, the BCB wrote a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) requesting that their T20 World Cup 2026 matches be moved to Sri Lanka. However, the ICC rejected BCB's proposal. Scotland replaced Bangladesh.

Mustafizur is currently playing in the Pakistan Super League.

BCB-BCCI mutually agree to postpone tour

Earlier, on 5 July 2025, BCCI announced that India's tour of Bangladesh in August 2025 had been postponed to September 2026.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have mutually agreed to defer the white-ball series, three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals, between Bangladesh and India in August 2025 to September 2026,” the BCCI had said.

“This decision has been reached following discussions between the two Boards, taking into account the international cricketing commitments and scheduling convenience of both teams. The BCB looks forward to welcoming India in September 2026 for this eagerly anticipated series. Revised dates and fixtures for the tour will be announced in due course.”

The last time India and Bangladesh played a bilateral series was in 2024. Bangladesh had toured India for three T20Is and two Tests, with the home side winning on all occasions. Meanwhile, the dates of the 2027 Asia Cup in Bangladesh are yet to be finalised and will be played in the 50-over format, keeping in mind the 2027 ODI World Cup the same year.