Crisis-Hit BPL Ends With More Questions Than Answers

News Desk 

Dhaka: The 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) concluded under a cloud of administrative turmoil, with recurring off-field crises repeatedly forcing the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) into emergency interventions to keep the tournament running, once again raising questions about the league’s governance and long-term sustainability.

The instability surfaced even before the opening ball was bowled, as the tournament’s first-ever start outside Dhaka in Sylhet was marred by the sudden withdrawal of the Chattogram Royals’ ownership due to financial insolvency.

The BCB was compelled to take over the franchise, while a parallel crisis unfolded at Noakhali Express, where coaching staff briefly walked out in protest over alleged mismanagement.

The league was then plunged into mourning on December 27 following the death of Dhaka Capitals assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zaki during a pre-match warm-up.

Just days later, the passing of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia on December 30 prompted the BCB to suspend matches and cancel the planned Sylhet-Chattogram leg altogether, leading to a major overhaul of the tournament schedule.

When play resumed, administrative challenges gave way to diplomatic tensions. On January 3, the release of national fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman by Kolkata Knight Riders triggered a dispute that escalated to the international level, with the BCB and the Bangladesh government filing a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and warning of possible consequences for Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India.

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Internal unrest resurfaced on January 15 after comments by BCB director Najmul Islam regarding player salaries sparked a league-wide boycott by cricketers. The standoff ended only after the board removed Najmul from finance-related responsibilities, once again forcing changes to the fixture list for the Dhaka phase.

Amid the turbulence, the BCB tightened oversight mechanisms to protect the league’s integrity. The Anti-Corruption Unit conducted extensive monitoring throughout the tournament, prompting unease among players.

“Even a first-ball dismissal was questioned,” a Noakhali Express player said on condition of anonymity. “Phones were checked regularly, and sometimes I didn’t even carry my phone to the ground.”

The governance crisis deepened further this week when BCB director Muhammad Mukhlesur Rahman resigned as chairman of the board’s audit committee following allegations linking him to match-fixing during the tournament, adding to the season’s list of controversies.

Despite the upheaval, BPL governing council member secretary Iftekhar Rahman defended the board’s handling of the season, describing it as “extremely difficult” due to time constraints.

He said integrity measures had improved compared to last year and stressed that ensuring timely player payments had become the board’s immediate priority. Franchises, he added, would be reassessed next season, with revenue-sharing linked to profitability.

Former Bangladesh captain and Rangpur Riders assistant coach Mohammad Ashraful, however, said the season’s broader impact remained limited despite a competitive final. He attributed low scoring trends partly to the cancellation of the Chattogram leg and lamented the lack of emerging talent.

“Except for [Abdul Gaffar] Saqlain, we didn’t really discover many new young players, which is tragic,” Ashraful told The Daily Star, calling for structural reforms.

“Until a proper home-and-away system is implemented, the BPL will struggle to make a meaningful impact,” he said. Input from the Daily Star.