Bangladesh Cricketers End Boycott, Resume BPL 2025-26 Matches

Return to the Field After Controversy

Cricketers from Bangladesh are set to return to action in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 season following a brief boycott. This decision comes after a meeting involving the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) resolved the issues at hand. Starting Friday, players will be back on the field, leading to minor adjustments in the BPL schedule.

Background of the Boycott

The boycott was initiated after BCB director Nazmul Islam made contentious comments regarding former captain Tamim Iqbal, labeling him an 'Indian agent' for advocating dialogue between cricketing nations to address the T20 World Cup impasse. This situation arose after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released pacer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026, following directives from the BCCI due to concerns over minority treatment in Bangladesh. Nazmul further claimed that the BCB was not obligated to compensate players if they missed the T20 World Cup, citing the team's lack of major trophy wins. In response, players opted to boycott all cricketing activities and demanded Nazmul's removal from the BCB. Although he was questioned and relieved of his finance committee duties, he retained his director position. Ultimately, the players decided to lift the boycott and continue playing.

Updated BPL 2026 Schedule

The BPL 2026 matches originally set for January 15, 2026, featuring Chattogram Royals against Noakhali Express and Rajshahi Warriors facing Sylhet Titans, will now take place on Friday, January 16. Matches planned for January 16 and 17 have been postponed by one day, now scheduled for January 17 and 18, respectively. Additionally, the Eliminator and Qualifier 1, initially slated for January 19, will now occur on January 20.