Bangladesh Set to Play 12 Matches in New WTC Cycle

The third WTC cycle concluded just yesterday, with South Africa finally shedding their ‘chokers’ tag by clinching the title. Bangladesh, meanwhile, finished seventh out of nine teams, winning four out of their 12 matches — their most successful WTC campaign so far.

Much like the last cycle, Bangladesh will play 12 matches this time too — evenly split between home and away. Their journey in the new cycle begins with a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting June 17 in Galle. The second Test will be held in Colombo from June 25. This series also marks the official start of the 2025–27 WTC cycle.
Fixture Breakdown

Bangladesh will host Pakistan, West Indies, and England in three home series. Away, they will travel to Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Australia. All six series will consist of two Test matches.

This cycle will be particularly significant for Bangladesh as it marks their return to Australia for a Test series — their first since 2003. They will also host England in February 2027, a rare bilateral Test series between the two sides, and the first since 2016.

Here is a quick look at Bangladesh’s schedule:

    June 2025: Away vs. Sri Lanka

    March 2026: Home vs. Pakistan

    August 2026: Away vs. Australia

    October 2026: Home vs. West Indies

    November 2026: Away vs. South Africa

    February 2027: Home vs. England

This opening series against Sri Lanka will be Bangladesh’s only Test assignment in 2025. The remaining five series are scheduled across 2026 and early 2027.
Historical Context & WTC Evolution

Bangladesh’s performance in the WTC has shown steady, if slow, improvement. In the inaugural cycle (2019–21), they failed to win any of their seven matches. In the second (2021–23), they managed just one win in 12 games. But the third cycle (2023–25) saw them notch up four victories — their best WTC run to date.

Since the WTC’s inception, Bangladesh have played 31 matches, winning five, drawing two, and losing 24.

As in previous editions, nine teams will participate in this cycle. Each team will play six series — three at home and three away. The points system remains unchanged: 12 points for a win, six for a tie, and four for a draw.

However, this cycle will feature more cricket overall: 71 matches across 27 series, including the final — one more match than the previous cycles. The WTC Final is proposed to be held at Lord’s in June 2027.
What’s New

Australia will play the most matches (22), followed by England with 21. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will play the fewest — 12 each.

Despite their modest fixture count, Bangladesh can draw confidence from recent head-to-head performances. They are unbeaten in their last Test series against four of the six teams they’ll face this cycle:

    Drew series vs. Australia, England, and West Indies

    Won 2-0 vs. Pakistan

    Lost to Sri Lanka and South Africa

As Bangladesh enter their fourth WTC cycle and approach 25 years in Test cricket, their progress may be slow, but it's increasingly evident. With a growing core of experienced players and recent signs of competitiveness, this campaign offers another chance to solidify their place in the longer format.