Tamim Iqbal hopeful of India series, admits Bangladesh ‘could have handled’ T20 World Cup better

BCB President Tamim Iqbal (Image credit: BCB) 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 its exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup more carefully.The tour of India, with three ODIs and as many T20Is, was originally scheduled for August-September. With India set to play a T20 series against Afghanistan from September 13, the series against Bangladesh will not take place in the earlier discussed window.However, Tamim insisted that the series had not been scrapped and said that both boards were actively looking for a suitable window amid their busy schedules.

Tamim’s hope for India series

“That it (the series against India) is not going to happen has not been decided yet. Let me give you a quick update though. Both boards are very honest that this thing is happening. Both the BCCI and the BCB, and we are also looking at the windows to see what can be done at that time.“Roughly the date around which we’re also thinking about whether it can be done at this point or not. If I saw that the intention was negative, I wouldn’t even say to you today: ‘We’ll see what happens, we hope.’ I wouldn’t even say that word. The intentions are very positive,” Tamim told popular YouTube channel Not Out Noman.He said the two councils continue to communicate regularly despite their busy schedules.“There are certain things that are out of our control. And I, as the BCB president, never want to cross that line, okay? But the intentions are good, we communicate all the time. Also, the dates are being ascertained because Bangladesh is also busy, they are also busy. Bangladesh has three series in between. Also India, BCCI are very busy with their matches. But about that, we are busy.The proposed series comes against the backdrop of strained relations between the two governing bodies earlier this year, before Bangladesh eventually pulled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20 in India, citing security concerns.

“We definitely should have played the World Cup”

Tamim also reflected on the events surrounding Bangladesh’s decision to skip the tournament, especially after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released from his IPL 2026 contract with Kolkata Knight Riders.He admitted that the situation could have been handled differently, while reiterating that he believes Mustafizur’s dismissal was wrong.“I feel like we could have negotiated the matter a lot better. Look, the Mustafizur thing was obviously something that the whole country was disappointed with. And I say that today; I also said that day that it should never have happened. There was no way it was right, it should never have been done.”“I supported it then; I say it now. But we will play the World Cup. Every single person in Bangladesh celebrated like anything when we qualified for the World Cup for the first time. It may be the T20 World Cup every two years or every four years now, but it is the World Cup that Bangladesh will represent, right?“So I feel like we probably could have handled it better. We went to the point of no return right from the start. If you go to the point of no return on the first day, then that (solution) is not going to happen. And I feel like in some cases, sports should remain sports.”Tamim said there were aspects of the talks he could not reveal publicly, but argued Bangladesh should find a way to participate.“I’m saying this, I’m in the ICC now, I’m a member of the ICC because of the BCB. Many things were said and done during those negotiations that, if I publish it, you’ll be surprised. I won’t be able to do that (reveal those incidents). I won’t be able to do that because I’ve gone back on what I said, but let me be surprised by what the things were,” he said.Tamim also argued that sporting events should be separated from political disputes as much as possible.“My point is, whatever it is, whatever happens, who goes to which country, in which country the match should be played, I won’t go into these details. I feel that in some cases we should approach sports as sports. Unfortunately, sometimes we don’t have to stay within this boundary. 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 definitely have played the World Cup. We should definitely have done the negotiations in a better way. And that’s it, I can’t say many things even though I know them,” he added.