A landmark bilateral arrangement between the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will see the two sides contest three T20I matches on March 26, 28 and 30, 2027. The announcement was made on September 17, 2026, and the fixture list marks the first time Nepal and Bangladesh have agreed to a dedicated bilateral T20I series in men’s cricket.
The Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, will stage all three matches. Bangladesh’s tour represents the first occasion a Test-playing nation has travelled to Nepal specifically for a bilateral series, a development that underlines the growing stature of Nepali cricket on the international stage.
The series carries additional significance beyond the cricket itself. Organisers have dedicated the three matches to the victims of recent floods in Nepal, giving the occasion a humanitarian dimension that resonates across both cricketing communities.
Why does this series represent a milestone for Nepal as a host nation?
No Full Member of the ICC had previously visited Nepal for a standalone bilateral series before this arrangement was confirmed, making the Bangladesh tour a genuine first in the country’s hosting history. The three-match format also makes it the biggest bilateral series Nepal has staged to date.
Nepal and Bangladesh have crossed paths twice in men’s T20I cricket, on both occasions at ICC Men’s T20 World Cups. Their opening encounter was at the 2014 edition, and the sides met again at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The March 2027 fixtures will be the first competitive meetings between the two nations outside a global tournament setting.
The two boards have also agreed to explore future bilateral arrangements at A-team level, broadening the scope of the partnership well beyond the senior men’s series. The BCB has additionally committed to supporting Nepal’s women’s cricket, age-group programmes and capacity-building initiatives as part of the wider bilateral relationship.
What does the series mean for each team’s 2028 T20 World Cup preparations?
Bangladesh enter the series having already secured qualification for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup, so the three matches will function as competitive preparation rather than a points-earning exercise. The fixtures nonetheless offer Bangladesh an opportunity to test combinations in a bilateral environment ahead of that tournament.
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Nepal’s position is different. The side will need to earn their place at the 2028 T20 World Cup through the Global Qualifier, and regular exposure to Full Member opposition is a valuable part of that preparation. Facing Bangladesh across three T20Is in home conditions gives Nepal’s squad meaningful competitive experience at a level that bilateral cricket against Associate nations cannot replicate.
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