Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka

Dhaka, Aug 31: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal has said the proposed white-ball series against India has not been scrapped, with the BCB and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) continuing discussions to find a new window for the tour.

India were scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is in Bangladesh in August-September. However, the series cannot go ahead as originally planned, and the two boards are now exploring alternative dates. The BCCI and BCB had earlier agreed to shift the tour from August 2025 to September 2026.

“That it (India series) won't happen hasn't been decided yet,” Tamim said in an interaction with sports platform Not Out Noman.

He said both boards remained committed to making the series happen and were regularly communicating to identify a suitable window.

“Both BCCI and BCB are very sincere that this thing happens. We are looking at windows as well, which time what can be done,” Tamim said, adding that the intentions on both sides remained positive.

Tamim acknowledged that finding suitable dates would be challenging because both teams have busy international calendars. India also have a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan scheduled from September 13 to 17, making the originally proposed September window difficult.

Recent reports have indicated that January 2027 could emerge as a possible window, although no new dates have been officially confirmed.

Tamim also spoke about corruption allegations surrounding the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), saying the board had already issued a statement naming several individuals and that another four or five names could be revealed after legal consultations.

“There is an issue with integrity. The lawyer is handling it now. When we get the green signal from the lawyer, we will reveal it through a press release,” he said.

Bangladesh's T20 World Cup decision

Tamim also expressed regret over Bangladesh's decision to stay out of the 2026 T20 World Cup, saying the matter could have been handled through better negotiations.

Bangladesh had opted out of the tournament, citing security concerns, following the controversy involving pacer Mustafizur Rahman and Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League.

Tamim said the decision was disappointing because Bangladesh had qualified for a World Cup and should have explored every possible avenue to participate.

“I feel that we could have negotiated the thing much better,” he said, while maintaining that the treatment of Mustafizur was not right.

Tamim said discussions surrounding Bangladesh's participation involved several developments that he did not want to make public, adding that revealing them would surprise people.

He also argued that sports should, where possible, be kept separate from political disputes.

“If you go to a point of no return on the very first day, then that solution won't happen,” Tamim said, stressing that sports should sometimes be treated simply as sports.

Despite the political and scheduling complications surrounding India-Bangladesh ties, Tamim maintained that dialogue between the two cricket boards remains active and that the six-match series is still being considered.