Bangladesh Likely to Join Pakistan and Australia for T20 Tri-Series Before 2026 World Cup

Shubham Sangale·24 July 2025 at 9:01 pm IST

Bangladesh join T20 tri-series: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in early talks to join a proposed T20 tri-nation series in February 2026. According to reports, the series will include Australia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh and is likely to be played just before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The tri-series aims to give all three teams valuable match practice ahead of the mega tournament. This will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Cricket Australia (CA) had already confirmed a three-match T20I tour to Pakistan in February 2026. Now, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is looking to turn it into a tri-nation series by inviting Bangladesh to join. If the BCB agrees, the series will have a round-robin format where each team plays the others twice, followed by a final.

BCB in Talks to Join February 2026 T20I Tri-Series

The final decision is expected during the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting scheduled in Dhaka on July 24–25, 2025. Pakistan’s PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is likely to meet with BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul to discuss the details. Both cricket boards have shared a positive working relationship, and sources say that the Bangladesh board is open to the idea.

The timing also works well for Bangladesh, as they do not have any confirmed international fixtures in February 2026. They will complete their series against Pakistan in January, leaving their calendar open to participate.

Strategic Warm-Up for the T20 World Cup 2026

This tri-nation series will be crucial for all three teams as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. Similar series have helped teams assess their combinations, build form, and gain momentum before ICC events. The addition of Bangladesh will increase the competitiveness and viewership of the series.