When Dhaka Capitals announced their participation in the Bangladesh Premier League 2024-25, the franchise generated a huge buzz. With Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan onboard as brand ambassador, fan interest soared. The theme song, bus branding, and social media campaigns were all executed with precision. As Bangladesh’s cricket is largely Dhaka-centric, local fans quickly rallied behind the team. Expectations rose fast, and the hype felt real.
But the reality proved very different. Despite the fanfare and promises, Dhaka Capitals’ issues soon came to light. From failed signings to fixing allegations and delayed player payments, the franchise began showing serious cracks.
Poor performances
On the field, struggles started early. In their first season, Dhaka Capitals lost their first six matches. Under coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon and captain Thisara Perera, the team struggled to find balance, with overseas signings failing to deliver. They ended the season with just three wins from twelve games.
The following season offered no relief. Led by Mithun, the side again managed only three wins from ten matches. They suffered a string of consecutive losses, highlighting persistent issues with team performance and strategy.
Fixing allegations
Off-field concerns soon overshadowed results. Suspicious patterns in Dhaka Capitals’ matches drew attention from analysts. Jarrod Kimber, a well-known cricket analyst, highlighted unusual sequences, including a series of wides during the 2024-25 match against Rangpur Riders.
Kimber’s analysis went further than just noting the wides. He tracked betting odds on online platforms during the match and observed unusual spikes coinciding with the deliveries, raising red flags about potential corruption.
Ahead of the 12th edition of the BPL, The Bangladesh Cricket Board had red-flagged nine players, including Dhaka Capitals cricketer Alauddin Babu, who was excluded from the final BPL auction list over suspicion. The unofficial restriction was imposed by the BCB integrity unit chairman Alex Marshall.
Dhaka Capitals came under intense scrutiny. Franchise CEO Atik Fahad’s phone was seized as part of the probe, and players faced questioning in unusual circumstances. Right-handed batter Saif Hassan was interrogated in the dressing room while padding up for a match, and Afghanistan star Rahmanullah Gurbaz was questioned in his hotel room without prior notice. The board insisted these were routine procedures, though doubts lingered.
Unpaid players
Financial mismanagement further tarnished the franchise’s reputation. Dhaka Capitals are accused of failing to pay players for the 2025-26 season. BPL governing council member secretary Iftekhar Rahman Mithu told reporters on Saturday, that the franchise still owes around BDT 3 crore. The franchise, however, claimed the outstanding amount was BDT 1 crore, which it intended to clear from its share of BPL revenue.
Many players reportedly received only partial payments. Despite warnings and extended deadlines from the BCB, dues were not settled before Eid ul Fitr. Mithu said, “We had set a 45-day deadline. The payment structure was 25 percent before the tournament, 50 percent during it, and the remaining 25 percent after it ended. Dhaka players have received only 25 percent so far.”
He warned that the board would take action this week if payments were not cleared, adding that the BCB holds a bank guarantee of BDT 5 crore and a cheque of another BDT 5 crore.
Unpaid social media handlers
Dhaka Capitals’ rise was built on strong social media presence. Yet, behind the scenes, payment issues persisted. A digital agency that handled their social media work claimed it was not fully paid. “Dhaka Capitals did not pay us for the second season at all. They paid only half for the first season and still owe the rest,” the agency owner told Times of Bangladesh.
He added, “Our agency is not affiliated with them anymore. There’s no chance for us to continue in this way.”
The Shoaib Akhtar controversy
Another confusing chapter involved Shoaib Akhtar. Dhaka Capitals’ social media initially presented him as a mentor ahead of BPL 2026. CEO Atik Fahad also spoke about his expected impact, saying, “Having someone of his stature around can inspire our pacers like Taskin, Saifuddin, and the rest of the bowling group. Beyond cricketing value, he also adds value from a business standpoint.”
However, Akhtar was never seen working with the team on the field. He did not attend matches and did not take part in any active mentoring role with the squad. It later became clear that his involvement was largely limited to promotional activities.
Interestingly, on the day he was announced as mentor, Akhtar arrived at the event two hours later as he was busy shooting a TVC for another Dhaka Capitals sponsor.
A source close to the development said that bringing Shoaib Akhtar on board for promotional purposes was the idea of Mizanur Rahman, one of the franchise owners.
Treatment of Mahbub Ali Zaki
The death of assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zaki during a warm-up session in Sylhet shocked the cricket community. However, the Dhaka franchise has yet to settle his contractual dues or provide financial support to his family. Multiple attempts by his family to contact the franchise went unanswered. In contrast, the BCB stepped in to assist, calling Zaki’s family to its office to process the pending payments from his four-year contract with the board.
What began with promise has turned into a mix of poor results, controversy, and allegations. Dhaka Capitals arrived with high hopes, but their journey so far has raised more questions than answers.
