NEW DELHI — India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Bangladesh is facing a strong threat of cancellation due to an unavoidable scheduling overlap with a newly confirmed T20 International series against Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) officially confirmed its upcoming tour of India, scheduling a three-match T20I series from September 13 to September 17, 2026. All three encounters are slated to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

"The ACB hereby confirms that the India tour of Afghanistan 2026 is scheduled to take place from September 13 to September 17," ACB Chief Executive Officer Naseeb Khan stated in a letter sent to commercial partners. "The ACB further confirms that the dates of the event have been confirmed and agreed with BCCI and the venues of the scheduled matches have also been finalized."

The Scheduling Conflict

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had previously set aside the window between September 1 and September 13 to host India for a six-match white-ball series comprising One-Day Internationals and T20Is.

However, with India set to host Afghanistan starting September 13 in New Delhi, the tight timeline leaves virtually no room for the Indian squad to complete the tour of Bangladesh, navigate travel logistics, and turnaround for the home series. Consequently, cricket insiders indicate the tour of Bangladesh is virtually ruled out.

History of Disruptions

This is not the first instance where white-ball fixtures between the two neighboring nations have encountered severe turbulence:

  • 2025 Postponement: India's original white-ball tour to Bangladesh in August 2025 was deferred following heightened diplomatic tensions and political uncertainty in the region.

  • Player Restrictions & Security Fallout: Tensions escalated further when Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was restricted from playing in the IPL despite being signed by Kolkata Knight Riders. Subsequently, during the 2026 T20 World Cup hosted by India, Bangladesh declined to play its fixtures on Indian soil over security concerns, resulting in their eventual exclusion from the tournament.

Packed International Calendar

The impending cancellation comes amidst a congested international schedule for all teams involved. India is set to engage in a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka beginning August 15. Meanwhile, Bangladesh will embark on a historic tour of Australia for a two-match Test series and an upcoming white-ball series.