With competitive fixtures proving scarce and the Asia Cup looming, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials are looking to bolster the national team’s preparations with a tri-nation T20 series alongside Australia and Pakistan — a potential breakthrough on the eve of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The series, tentatively scheduled for February 2026, would see Australia’s previously announced tour of Pakistan expand into a seven-match tri-nation tournament. Each side would play one another twice, with the top two contesting a final.
While the proposal remains at the informal stage, discussions are understood to be advancing behind the scenes. A senior BCB source revealed that Pakistan, encouraged by improved bilateral ties, has shown interest in involving Bangladesh. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, currently in Dhaka for the ACC Annual General Meeting, is expected to discuss the matter directly with BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul during his visit.
For Cricket Australia (CA), such collaborations are familiar territory. Prior to the 2021 T20 World Cup, Australia engaged in a five-match series against Bangladesh — conditions designed to mimic tournament scenarios. Similarly, before the 2025 Champions Trophy, Australia toured Sri Lanka for Test and ODI match practice.
The proposed February series would dovetail with preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup, set to be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, faces a month-long competitive gap following the postponement of India’s tour — a three-match ODI and T20I series now pushed to September 2026. That delay has sparked concern about the Tigers’ readiness heading into major tournaments.
BCB officials see the tri-series as a practical and strategic opportunity. Not only would it inject high-quality match experience against two top-tier nations, but it would offer players a stage to acclimatise to World Cup conditions.
While formal approval from the PCB and CA is pending, the signs are promising — and Bulbul’s presence as host for the ACC AGM may play a pivotal role. Whether in dinner meetings or closed-door briefings, Bangladesh is making its pitch for inclusion with quiet confidence.
The Tigers may be short on fixtures this August, but if this deal materialises, February could bring exactly the kind of contest Bangladesh needs to sharpen its roar.
