The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has been suspended for the 2026 season. BCB president Tamim Iqbal made the call, citing around Tk 40 crore in losses over the last two editions. The reaction from players and the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB)? Silence. Nodding along. Trusting the board's long-term plan.
It's a striking contrast to what happened just months ago.
Pressure Then, Patience Now
When Faruque Ahmed took over as BCB president in August 2024, players—led by Tamim himself—pleaded with him not to put the BPL on hold. They were willing to compromise on earnings just to make the tournament happen. The country was in turmoil following the July uprising, but the message was clear: the BPL must go on. Even Mushfiqur Rahim said it would be "difficult for us [players] to provide for our families" without it.
The same urgency followed Aminul Islam Bulbul into the presidency. Despite being an ardent critic of the BPL's dubious reputation, Bulbul eventually yielded and headed the BPL Governing Council. What followed was perhaps the worst edition since the tournament's inception in 2012—players staged protests, boycotted matches, and a director labelled Tamim an "Indian agent".
Now, under Tamim's leadership, there will be no BPL. No alternative tournament either—the cricketers' request for a separate competition was turned down. And the resistance that once forced two presidents into submission has gone missing.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Tamim's decision isn't without justification. He revealed that previous administrations under Faruque and Bulbul made false claims about player payments, profits, and franchise bank guarantees. Only two teams submitted proper bank guarantees; others used pay orders or checks that don't qualify. The 11th BPL season was marred by match-fixing allegations and unpaid player wages. The BCB lost around Tk 40 crore over the last three tournaments.
Just last week, the BCB charged three former officials with breaches of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code in connection with the 12th BPL edition. The allegations include match-fixing-related offences and facilitating corrupt conduct.
The tournament was broken. Something had to give.
The Unequal Treatment Question
But the question remains: why was Faruque put under such pressure, and Bulbul forced to yield, while Tamim faces nothing close to the same resistance?
CWAB president Mohammad Mithun's explanation is telling: "The board told us they are making a model which will benefit 180-200 cricketers in the long term, not just 50-60 cricketers. So we are keeping faith in the board's plan".
Faith. The same players who kept Faruque and Bulbul on the ropes are now willing to trust the board's plan. CWAB, an association supposedly formed to protect players' interests, has hardly lived up to that purpose. Even the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) criticised CWAB for not fulfilling its role during a critical time for the players.
What's Really Happening?
The context matters. Faruque was ousted in May 2025 when eight directors passed a no-confidence motion against him. Bulbul was installed, then elected in a controversial vote. In April 2026, the National Sports Council dissolved Bulbul's board and formed an 11-member ad hoc committee headed by Tamim. Bulbul and Faruque have since challenged the legality of this committee in the High Court.
The trajectory involving these three former captains reflects a deeper dysfunction—how governance of the BCB repeatedly gets disrupted by external influence. Political interference, constitutional contradictions, and institutional weakness have turned the BCB into a revolving door of leadership.
The Bottom Line
Players have always argued how important the BPL is for their livelihood. The cancellation leaves a significant income gap. Yet CWAB is now shifting focus towards strengthening earnings across domestic cricket, with higher match fees proposed.
But here's the uncomfortable truth: when Faruque and Bulbul were in charge, the players demanded the BPL at any cost. Under Tamim, they're being asked to trust the process. The inconsistency is glaring.
Perhaps the players have learned that a broken tournament is worse than no tournament at all. Perhaps Tamim's stature as a recently retired legend commands a different kind of respect. Or perhaps, after years of chaos, they've simply run out of fight.
Whatever the reason, the double standard is impossible to ignore. And in Bangladesh cricket, that's become the only predictable thing.
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