Fresh doubts emerge over India’s Bangladesh tour

Fresh doubts emerge over India's Bangladesh tour

Less than two weeks ago, there were indications that the six-match white-ball series would go ahead. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) even issued a tender notification inviting bids for media rights on July 1. However, 13 days on, the series appears to have been pushed to the back burner, with the BCB seemingly putting the process on hold.

On July 1, the BCB put the television and digital media rights for the series up for sale, stating the bidding process would be completed by July 22. However, it did not release the Expression of Interest (EoI) documents, leaving interested broadcasters – mainly in India – wondering whether the series would happen at all.

"We have not issued the EoI documents because there has been a slight change in plans. We are now assessing the market before inviting bids," a BCB source said. "It is not true that we are withholding the EoI documents because of the India series."

Multiple theories are circulating about why the process has stalled. One suggests the BCCI was not pleased that the BCB put the media rights up for sale without prior discussions. Another believes discussions may have taken place between officials of the two boards in Edinburgh, Scotland, at the ICC Annual Conference.

One possible reason for the BCB's decision to pause and withhold the EoI document could be that the dates have not yet been finalised. The EoI must mention match dates.

The BCB had released a schedule for the India series some time ago, with three T20Is and three ODIs scheduled between August 1 and 13. But it now appears those dates may no longer be final.

The series has always been under a cloud due to diplomatic frost between the two countries, particularly last year. Hopes were raised when India appointed Dinesh Trivedi as ambassador to Bangladesh last month. The fact that the ambassador is a career politician rather than a diplomat added to optimism.

It may be too early to draw conclusions, but there appear to be roadblocks to the Indian team's travel to Bangladesh.