Tamim Iqbal, the Bangladesh Cricket Board president, on Wednesday said that the board is hopeful of hosting India in September.

The possibility of the India series, scheduled for September 2026, comprising three ODIs and three T20Is depends on a lot of conditions. If insiders are to be believed, given the relations between the two countries, in the present context it is more political than anything else.

Those in the know say there is renewed hope that the six-match white-ball series in Bangladesh could take place, given the latest developments in geopolitics. Recently, news emerged that the Government of India invited Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the 18th BRICS Summit (to be held in September), and the development has led to a sense of optimism in the relevant quarters.

However, many feel the Bangladesh government firstly has to accept the invitation.

The cricketing relationship between Bangladesh and India reached an all-time low when the latter decided to skip the T20I World Cup citing security reasons during the time of Yunus-led government.

It seemed the newly elected BNP government would be keen to do damage control but Cricbuzz understands that they are yet to start any kind of activities that suggest they are heading towards that direction.

“Unfortunately, I don't have any news regarding the India series. I am in discussions with the BCCI andthere's an exchange of emails happening between BCB members, and we are trying from all quarters,” said Tamim.

“Bangladesh's series against India, the excitement is at a different level, I'm sure from journalists, from fans, cricketers, everyone,” he said. “Bangladesh is an extremely safe country, and I am very hopeful that they will come. Whatever steps need to be taken from our side, we are trying. But one thing we all need to understand — I am the BCB president, and there is also a line that I should never cross. So from my position, whatever is possible to do within my responsibility, I am talking to people, I am trying to tell them what advantages there are with the India series and all those things.“

There are certain things that are beyond my control. The discussions I've had so far have been very positive discussions. They also have to make a decision. Very soon, perhaps, we will find out whether the series is happening or not. So we will know very soon,” he added.

Tamim, who was recently appointed as chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) franchise league committee overseeing franchise cricket leagues, said his appointment is a huge matter of pride for both himself and Bangladesh. Tamim said that he was quite happy with the way things panned out in the first ICC meeting.

"If you look at world cricket right now, along with cricket board members with the ICC, there are many others who are associate members as well — 90-plus probably or 100. So various countries are probably applying for T20 cricket in various leagues," he noted.

"This whole thing — to look after whether the process is being maintained or not, who is involved, who is not involved, whether we are going to approve them, or whether there is anything happening in the currently existing leagues that shouldn't be happening, or disapproving those leagues, and everything else — the committee has been formed for this,” he said.

"I don't think I should share each and every detail, but this is a very significant committee, and this committee will probably play a very big part going forward," he concluded.