In a rare scheduling move during the Indian Premier League 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a full-fledged ODI and T20I series against New Zealand, set to be played between April and May.

While international cricket is usually paused during the IPL window, this decision makes the upcoming season even more intriguing for global cricket fans.

Series to run parallel with IPL

The IPL 2026 season begins on March 28, and the Bangladesh–New Zealand series will take place from April 17 to May 2, overlapping significantly with the tournament.

• Bangladesh are expected to field a full-strength squad, as none of their players are part of IPL teams

• New Zealand, however, may send a second-string or mixed squad, with several key players likely busy in the IPL

Complete ODI series schedule

• 1st ODI: April 17 – Mirpur

• 2nd ODI: April 20 – Mirpur

• 3rd ODI: April 23 – Chittagong

T20I series schedule

• 1st T20I: April 27 – Chittagong

• 2nd T20I: April 29 – Chittagong

• 3rd T20I: May 2 – Mirpur

Bangladesh eye another home success

Bangladesh will enter the series with confidence after a recent ODI series win over Pakistan National Cricket Team, and will look to repeat that success on home soil.

Women’s series also scheduled

At the same time, the Bangladesh Women's Cricket Team will host the Sri Lanka Women's Cricket Team for a parallel white-ball series:

• ODIs in Rajshahi (April 20, 22, 25)

• T20Is in Sylhet (April 28, 30, May 2)

Unusual but strategic move

This scheduling decision highlights a shift in cricket dynamics, where boards are increasingly maximizing international fixtures despite IPL dominance.

While the clash may not heavily impact Bangladesh, New Zealand’s squad composition will be closely watched, adding another layer of interest to an already packed cricket calendar.