BCB hopeful India will tour Bangladesh in September, says president Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal remains hopeful that India will tour Bangladesh in September for the scheduled white-ball series. The tour, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is, is still awaiting final approval, with political and security factors expected to play a key role.

Speaking about the status of the series, Tamim said the BCB is in regular contact with the BCCI through emails and other channels. While no final decision has been made, he believes clarity will come soon.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any news regarding the India series. I am in discussions with the BCCI andthere’s an exchange of emails happening between BCB members, and we are trying from all quarters,”

Tamim admitted that some matters are beyond the BCB’s control but stressed that the board is doing everything possible to make the tour happen.

“Bangladesh’s series against India, the excitement is at a different level, I’m sure from journalists, from fans, cricketers, everyone,” he said. “Bangladesh is an extremely safe country, and I am very hopeful that they will come. Whatever steps need to be taken from our side, we are trying. But one thing we all need to understand I am the BCB president, and there is also a line that I should never cross.

So from my position, whatever is possible to do within my responsibility, I am talking to people, I am trying to tell them what advantages there are with the India series and all those things.

“There are certain things that are beyond my control. The discussions I’ve had so far have been very positive discussions. They also have to make a decision. Very soon, perhaps, we will find out whether the series is happening or not. So we will know very soon,” he added.

Cricket ties between the two countries had weakened after India skipped the T20 World Cup due to security concerns during the Yunus-led government. However, optimism has grown following recent diplomatic developments. Reports that India invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the BRICS Summit have raised hopes that the cricket series could go ahead, although no official confirmation has been made.

Tamim also spoke about his appointment to the ICC’s franchise league committee. He said the committee has been formed to oversee franchise leagues around the world and ensure that proper processes are followed before approving new competitions.

“If you look at world cricket right now, along with cricket board members with the ICC, there are many others who are associate members as well 90-plus probably or 100. So various countries are probably applying for T20 cricket in various leagues,” he noted.

“This whole thing to look after whether the process is being maintained or not, who is involved, who is not involved, whether we are going to approve them, or whether there is anything happening in the currently existing leagues that shouldn’t be happening, or disapproving those leagues, and everything else the committee has been formed for this,” he said.

“I don’t think I should share each and every detail, but this is a very significant committee, and this committee will probably play a very big part going forward,” he concluded.