Bangladesh Cricket Board seeks media rights for upcoming home series
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has initiated a process to invite Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and financial offers for the worldwide media rights of several bilateral international home series. These series involve the Bangladesh National Cricket Team (Men) and are scheduled to be hosted in Bangladesh during the 2026–27 period. Reputable TV broadcasters, digital platforms, marketing agencies, consortiums, and firms are invited to participate in this process.
This development follows a period of strained cricketing and diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh. The BCB had previously paused the sale of its media rights for two years after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) canceled a tour in 2025. The current tender, which includes an India series, signals a potential return to normal cricketing ties.
The tender documents specifically mention India’s tour of Bangladesh in 2026. This tour is expected to feature a six-match white-ball series, consisting of three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The inclusion of the India series in the media rights tender is seen as a significant step, especially after previous cancellations and tensions.
Key series included in the EOI
The EOI covers several high-profile bilateral international home series. These include tours by some of the world’s leading cricketing nations. The schedule for these series spans across 2026 and 2027, offering a substantial package of international cricket.
The series covered under this EOI are:
- India Team’s Tour of Bangladesh 2026, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is.
- West Indies Team’s Tour of Bangladesh 2026, featuring two Test matches.
- England Team’s Tour of Bangladesh 2027, also including two Test matches.
- Pakistan Team’s Tour of Bangladesh 2027, which will consist of five ODIs.
The inclusion of these tours, particularly the India series, is crucial for the BCB’s media rights portfolio. The India tour is often considered a significant revenue generator due to its high viewership and commercial appeal.
Context of India-Bangladesh cricketing relations
The cricketing relationship between India and Bangladesh has faced challenges in the recent past. Tensions reportedly arose after extradition demands for Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were denied, leading to protests in Dhaka over India’s actions. These diplomatic issues contributed to the BCCI cancelling a scheduled six-game white-ball series in August 2025, citing packed international commitments.
Further events, such as Mustafizur Rahman‘s reported snub from Kolkata Knight Riders and Bangladesh’s refusal to participate in the T20 World Cup 2026 due to security concerns, also contributed to the strained environment. The BCB had paused the sale of its media rights for the subsequent two years following the BCCI’s cancellation of the 2025 tour.
The current move by the BCB to resume the media rights sale process, with a specific mention of the India tour, suggests a potential resolution to these past issues. While neither the BCB nor the BCCI has officially confirmed the tour, the tender’s details indicate that the postponed series could proceed.
The BCCI had previously declined a request from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for three additional T20 International matches in India’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. This decision is now being viewed in the context of India’s potential visit to Bangladesh, as there is reportedly a two-week window between India’s bilateral series against Sri Lanka and its subsequent international commitments. The bidding process for the media rights is scheduled to officially commence on 2 July, with a reported deadline of 22 July.
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Source: tigercricket.com.bd
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter