BPL Turmoil as BCB Takes Chattogram Control

The 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) gets under way today, but once again the country’s flagship T20 tournament has failed to escape controversy before a single ball has been bowled. Despite assurances from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that lessons had been learned from past mistakes and that this year’s competition would be run more professionally, administrative turmoil has overshadowed the build-up, culminating in the BCB taking over ownership of the Chattogram franchise at the eleventh hour.

While a mild cold wave has swept across the country, the atmosphere around the Sylhet stadium has been anything but cool. Unrest and uncertainty have dominated discussions, with scenes unfolding that observers say were unprecedented even by BPL’s often-chaotic standards. Ahead of the tournament, the BCB had set strict conditions for franchise ownership, including a mandatory bank guarantee of Tk 10 crore and a commitment to participate for at least five seasons. Intelligence agencies were also reportedly involved in vetting potential franchise owners to avoid financial irregularities.

However, these requirements proved too burdensome for several franchise holders. The spotlight soon fell on Chattogram Royals, owned by Triangle Services Limited. Over recent days, questions had been raised about the franchise’s ability to pay player salaries, particularly after national opener Naim Sheikh was bought at the auction for Tk 1.10 crore. Concerns over financial stability also meant that no overseas players joined the Chattogram camp.

On Wednesday morning, the franchise owner, Kaiyum Rashid, formally informed the BCB in writing that Chattogram Royals could no longer continue due to acute financial difficulties and a lack of sponsorship. The announcement triggered widespread criticism across the cricketing community. With the tournament set to begin, the BCB stepped in and assumed control of the franchise to ensure the competition could proceed.

The takeover brought immediate changes. The coaching structure was reshuffled, with Mizanur Rahman Babu appointed as head coach, Habibul Bashar Sumon taking charge as team director, and Nafis Iqbal named team manager. Former selector Sumon had already arrived in Sylhet earlier, while Mizanur Rahman was flown in from Dhaka at short notice.

BCB governing council member secretary Iftekhar Rahman Mithu admitted that the board was under immense pressure. Speaking to journalists, he explained that persistent rumours regarding the franchise’s integrity had scared off sponsors, leaving the owners unable to cope financially. While the BCB had earlier promised a “clean and fresh” BPL, Mithu struck a more realistic tone, acknowledging the difficulties of organising such a major tournament within a short timeframe.

Amid the uncertainty, there was visible relief among Chattogram players. Cricketers such as Naim Sheikh, Shariful Islam and Sheikh Mahadi expressed confidence that the BCB’s involvement would ensure timely payment of salaries. However, the franchise’s previous coaching staff were not as fortunate. Former South African cricketer Justin Miles, who had been appointed head coach, and Tushar Imran, named mentor and batting coach, were released as part of the restructuring—bringing their tenures to an abrupt end even before the tournament began.

Key Developments at a Glance

As the BPL begins, the Chattogram episode has once again raised serious questions about franchise sustainability and governance, casting a shadow over the tournament’s credibility even before the first match is played.