The Bangladesh Cricket Board is actively negotiating a bilateral series against Nepal before 2027, responding to diplomatic requests to create an opening in a congested international calendar.
The initiative stems from recent meetings between Nepalese Ambassador Ghanashyam Bhandari and Bangladesh’s Sports Ministry, highlighting how Associate nations increasingly utilise non-traditional political channels to secure rare fixtures against Test-playing neighbours.
Navigating A Packed Schedule
Finding an open window remains a significant challenge due to severe Future Tours Programme constraints leading up to the 2027 World Cup, a tournament where established stars must prove they can sustain elite ODI performance.
Speaking to Cricfrenzy, BCB cricket operations chief Shahriar Nafees confirmed the board’s intentions. “Discussions are ongoing between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the Nepal Cricket Association. We know our FTP is quite packed, but we are still trying to find a suitable window within this cycle,” Nafees said.
Carving Out T20 Opportunities
Administrators must now evaluate whether a brief T20I block can be scheduled alongside existing preparation camps for the upcoming Asian Games or the National Cricket League. The board is managing these logistical hurdles just as a recent leadership review exposed underlying institutional strains.
Should the negotiations succeed, it would mark the first bilateral meeting between the two nations. “The Nepal Cricket Board sent us a proposal quite some time ago, expressing their interest in playing a bilateral series with Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has taken that invitation very positively,” Nafees told CricTracker.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has directed the Nepalese delegation to submit a formal proposal for final BCB approval.
