A day before the Bangladesh Premier League was due to begin in Sylhet, the Bangladesh Cricket Board took control of Chattogram Royals after the franchise owners withdrew, leaving players unpaid and the organisers under intense pressure.
Chattogram were scheduled to train from 2pm on Tuesday at the Sylhet International Stadium’s second ground, but before players such as Naim Sheikh and Shoriful Islam arrived, franchise owners Triangle Services formally relinquished ownership. The BCB stepped in immediately, assuming responsibility for the team for the upcoming BPL season.
The decision came after Chattogram failed to pay the mandatory first instalment of player salaries. Under BPL Governing Council rules, franchises must pay 25 per cent of contracted fees before the tournament begins. While Rangpur Riders have already paid 50 per cent, and Rajshahi Warriors and Dhaka Capitals 25 per cent each, Chattogram were unable to make any payment on the eve of the competition. Noakhali Express are expected to make their payment on 25 December.
BPL Governing Council member secretary Iftekhar Rahman Mithu confirmed that Chattogram’s owners admitted they were financially unable to continue. “They told us they are in serious financial trouble because they could not secure any sponsors,” Mithu said. “Over the past month there have been rumours and questions about their integrity in the media and on social platforms. Because of that, sponsors did not come forward and they could not carry this burden.”
Mithu reiterated that the board would not compromise on two core issues. “We will not move even an inch from our position,” he said. “The first is integrity, and the second is player payments.”
Despite the disruption, Mithu suggested the situation could have been worse. “In one sense, this might be a good thing,” he said. “We could have spoken to players and asked them to take their money later, but we did not do that.”
Following the takeover, the BCB acted swiftly to restructure the team’s management. Habibul Bashar Suman resigned from the technical committee to become team director, Mizanur Rahman Babul was appointed head coach, and Nafees Iqbal was named team manager. The franchise’s formal letter of withdrawal has also been sent to the BCB’s legal team.
Mithu admitted the timing added significant pressure. “Of course we are under pressure,” he said. “If a team says just two or three hours earlier that they cannot provide financial support, it creates huge stress. Still, within two hours we managed to appoint a team director, fly the coach from Dhaka, appoint a manager and take ownership under the cricket board.”
With the BPL set to begin on Wednesday, the BCB now faces the task of stabilising Chattogram Royals while ensuring player payments and tournament integrity are protected from the opening match onward.
