Bangladesh Cricket Board president Tamim Iqbal has expressed optimism about the white-ball series against India, while admitting that Bangladesh could have handled the controversy surrounding their withdrawal from the 2026 T20 World Cup more carefully.The India tour, featuring three ODIs and as many T20Is, was originally scheduled for August-September. However, with India set to play a T20 series against Afghanistan from September 13, the series against Bangladesh will not take place in the previously discussed window.Tamim, however, insisted that the series has not been scrapped and said both boards are actively looking for a suitable window amid their crowded schedules.
Tamim hopeful of India series
“That it (the series against India) won’t happen hasn’t been decided yet. Still, let me give a quick piece of information. Both boards are very sincere that this thing happens. Both the BCCI and the BCB, and we are looking at windows as well, to see what can be done at that time.“Roughly a date, around which we are also thinking whether it can be done at this time or not. If I saw the intention was negative, then today I wouldn’t even have said this word to you, ‘Let’s see what happens, we’re hopeful.’ I wouldn’t have even said this word. Intentions are very positive,” Tamim told popular YouTube channel Not Out Noman.He said both boards remain in regular communication despite their busy schedules.“There are certain things that are beyond our control. And I never want to cross that line as BCB president, okay? But intentions are good, we are continuously communicating. Dates are also being figured out, because Bangladesh is also busy, they are also busy. Bangladesh has three series in between. They also, India, BCCI stay very busy with their matches. But we are having a regular discussion regarding this,” he said.The proposed series comes against the backdrop of strained relations between the two boards earlier this year, before Bangladesh eventually withdrew from the 2026 T20 World Cup in India, citing security concerns.
‘We should have definitely played the World Cup’
Tamim also reflected on the events surrounding Bangladesh’s decision to skip the tournament, particularly after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released from his IPL 2026 contract with Kolkata Knight Riders.He acknowledged that the situation could have been handled differently, while reiterating that he believed Mustafizur’s release was wrong.“I feel that we could have negotiated the thing much better. Look, Mustafizur’s issue was obviously something that the whole country was disappointed with. And I say today as well; I said that day too, it should never have happened. This was in no way the right thing to do; this should never have been done.“At that time I endorsed this; I am saying it even now. But we are going to play a World Cup. Every single person in Bangladesh celebrated like anything when we first qualified for the World Cup. It may be that now every two years a T20 World Cup happens, or every four years it happens, but it is a World Cup Bangladesh is going to represent, right?“So, I feel we probably could have dealt with it better. We went to a point of no return right from the beginning. If you go to a point of no return on the very first day, then that (solution) won’t happen. And I feel in some cases, sports should remain as sports.”Tamim said there were aspects of the negotiations that he could not reveal publicly, but maintained that Bangladesh should have found a way to participate.“I am saying this, I am in the ICC now, I am an ICC member because of BCB. There were a lot of things said and done during those negotiations, which, if I make public, you will be surprised. I won’t be able to do it (revealing those incidents). I won’t be able to do it because I come back to that fact, I need to maintain that respect. You will be surprised at what things were said, but let’s not go into that discussion,” he said.Tamim also argued that sporting events should, where possible, be kept separate from political disputes.“My point is, whatever it is, whatever is going on, who is going to which country, in which country the match should be played, I am not going into that detail. I feel that in some cases, we should treat sports as sports. Unfortunately, we sometimes might not be staying within this line. We often drag sports with other aspects as well,” he said.“So whenever this topic comes up, I say the same thing again, that we should have definitely played the World Cup. We should have definitely done the negotiation in a better way. And that’s it, I cannot say many things even though I know them,” he added.
