In order to ensure their Indian colleagues that Bangladesh is prepared to host India’s men’s national cricket team in September, Bangladesh Cricket Board president Tamim Iqbal met with government officials on Thursday, July 30, and asked them to start government-level communication.
Sayeed Ibrahim, the chairman of the BCB Security Committee, accompanied the current BCB leader when she visited the office of Shama Obaed Islam, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
When Cricbuzz brought the meeting to his attention, BCB president Tamim Iqbal acknowledged it without providing any other details.
Since they have not yet received any official confirmation about the series, Cricbuzz is aware that BCB authorities have requested that government representatives speak with India about the tour. India is scheduled to visit in September to participate in the series, which consists of three ODIs and an equal number of T20Is.
Earlier on July 29, BCB president Tamim Iqbal expressed optimism about the series but said that there are boundaries he cannot cross, suggesting that the issue is out of his control and must, at the very least, be handled by the government.
Due to political upheaval in Bangladesh, the planned Bangladesh-India series was postponed from its initial 2024 date. Due to tense ties between the two cricket bodies, the tour remained questionable even after it was first postponed until 2025.
The tour has not yet been finalised, but people in the know believe that given the most recent geopolitical developments, there is renewed hope that the six-match white-ball series in Bangladesh could happen.
There is hope in the relevant sectors following the recent announcement that Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has been invited by the Indian government to the 18th BRICS Summit, which is scheduled for September.
Given that Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman stated on July 29 that Dhaka and New Delhi agreed on the need to reset and advance bilateral ties on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual interests, the meeting between BCB officials and government high-ups is highly significant.
The announcement was made following his initial courtesy call by India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Khalilur told reporters at the foreign office, “We both agree that our two countries’ relations should move forward, keeping mutual interests at the forefront and, as I always say, on the basis of sovereign equality.”
When asked about the government’s reaction to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s invitation from India to attend the May 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, the foreign minister responded, “We are currently reviewing it. “We’ll make a decision and let you know right away,” he stated.
Bangladesh’s prime minister was asked by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be a special guest at the intergovernmental BRICS summit on September 12–13. Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates make up this group.
In the meantime, the BCB has not yet finalised and submitted the EOI (Expression of Interest). According to sources, the valuation has been finished and presented to the board executives, but they have not yet made a decision. It seems that before making any decisions about the series, the BCB is awaiting approval.
