Bangladesh likely to join 2026 tri-series with Australia, Pakistan: reports

Bangladesh is being considered for a T20 tri-nation series in February 2026, featuring Australia and Pakistan, according to a source in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

As per media reports, Cricket Australia (CA) often schedules subcontinental tours before major ICC events to help players adapt to local conditions.

Before the 2021 T20 World Cup, Australia toured Bangladesh for a five-match T20I series. Similarly, they visited Sri Lanka for Tests and ODIs ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.

The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February-March, is the next major tournament. To prepare for this, Australia is already scheduled to play a three-match T20I series in Pakistan in early February.

However, talks are underway to expand this bilateral series into a tri-nation series, with Bangladesh as the third side.

A BCB official confirmed that while there is no official proposal from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) yet, informal discussions have taken place.

The source added that Pakistan is interested in including Bangladesh due to the recently improved relationship between both cricket boards.

PCB Chairman and newly elected ACC President Mohsin Naqvi is currently in Bangladesh for the Asian Cricket Council’s Annual General Meeting, which is taking place on July 24–25. He is expected to meet BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul on the sidelines of the meeting to discuss the proposed series.

If agreed, the series between Pakistan and Australia will turn into a tri-series featuring seven matches — each team playing the other two twice, followed by a final between the top two teams.

Meanwhile, a similar plan is being considered for Pakistan’s upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.

On July 5, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) Chairman Mirwais Ashraf confirmed that discussions are ongoing to turn that series into a tri-nation competition by adding the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the third team and host.

“A T20I series against Pakistan was scheduled for August but they suggested adding another team, UAE to the series,” said Ashraf.

“The tri-nation series will be helpful for us to prepare for the Asia Cup,” he added.

Ashraf also said the ACB has no issues with the UAE as the venue and is mainly focused on strong preparations ahead of the ACC Men’s Asia Cup.

Pakistan was originally set to host Afghanistan for a three-match T20I series in August. But the PCB has now proposed a more competitive format in the lead-up to the Asia Cup and 2026 T20 World Cup.

The tri-nation series in the UAE would provide all teams with important match practice in conditions similar to the expected Asia Cup venues, which are also likely to be in the Emirates.