Bangladesh is likely to compete in a T20 Tri-Nation Series in February 2026, with Australia and Pakistan as the other two teams. A source from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has revealed that the talks have taken place between the officials, but there is no official confirmation yet.
Australia is already set to visit Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in February 2026. However, both Cricket Australia (CA) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are now discussing the idea of expanding the three-match T20I series into a T20 Tri-Nation Series with Bangladesh joining as the third side.
Bangladesh in talks for T20 Tri-Series with Australia, Pakistan
The reason behind Cricket Australia (CA) and PCB’s idea is to give all three teams—Australia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan—quality match practice ahead of the next year’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka in February and March.
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Cricket Australia always plays it smart when the ICC event is scheduled in the subcontinent, scheduling series with the teams. Back in 2021, Australia played a T20I series in Bangladesh before the ICC World Cup 2023 in India and toured Sri Lanka ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Following the pattern, CA is not planning to go one step further this time ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, as they, along with the PCB, are considering convincing the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for a T20 Tri-Nation Series with the venue being either Pakistan or Bangladesh.
Mohsin Naqvi and Aminul Islam Bulbul to meet in Dhaka
Pakistan is reportedly keen on including Bangladesh, especially after recent improvements in relations between the PCB and BCB. However, no formal proposal has been made yet by Pakistan, but the early discussions are underway between the cricket boards.
PCB Chairman and ACC President Mohsin Naqvi is currently in Bangladesh for the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting on July 24–25 in Dhaka. Naqvi is expected to meet BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul on the sidelines of the meeting to explore the possibility of organizing the T20 Tri-Nation Series between Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Australia.
If finalized, the T20 Tri-Nation Series would likely feature seven matches with each team facing the other two twice, followed by a final between the top two sides. The final schedule and venues will be decided once all three boards reach an agreement.
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Bangladesh eye T20 Tri-Series boost; Afghanistan set to approve PCB’s plans
Well, Bangladesh will have an August month window free after their ongoing white-ball series against Pakistan at home, as India’s planned tour has been pushed to September 2026.
With the Asia Cup 2025 nearing, the BCB officials reportedly feel the proposed T20 Tri-Nation Series with Pakistan and Australia could provide a much-needed boost ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Additionally, the plans are underway to turn Pakistan’s upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan into the T20 Tri-Nation Series by adding the UAE as the third team and host.
Originally, Pakistan was set to host Afghanistan for three T20Is in August. But now, the PCB has suggested a more competitive format to better prepare for the Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
