The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026 has been compromised, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) forced to redraw its entire fixture list after a player boycott brought the tournament to a standstill. Two matches scheduled for January 15 were abandoned when teams refused to take the field, demanding the resignation and public apology of board director M Nazmul Islam.
Though the BCB has removed Nazmul from his role as finance committee chairman, the cricketers remain unconvinced that the issue is fully resolved. All this drama has come in relation to the aftermath of Bangladesh’s anti-India stance. They don’t want to play the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and are currently going back and forth with the ICC as well.
New BPL dates announced
Late on Thursday, the BCB issued a fresh schedule in an attempt to salvage the league. Matches originally set for January 15 will now be played on January 16, while the January 16 and 17 fixtures have been shifted to January 17 and 18 respectively. The Eliminator and Qualifier 1, earlier planned for January 19, will now take place on January 20. The board admitted the changes were unavoidable after “extraordinary circumstances” disrupted normal operations.
The crisis began after Nazmul Islam made inflammatory remarks, questioning whether national players deserved financial support if Bangladesh were to withdraw from the T20 World Cup 2026. He also reportedly labelled former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent”, comments that triggered anger within the cricket community. The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), backed by senior internationals such as Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, immediately called for a boycott of all cricket until Nazmul stepped down.
Bangladesh players demand more
Although the BCB moved quickly to strip Nazmul of his portfolio and appoint president Aminul Islam as acting finance head, players insist the matter cannot end there. CWAB representatives have stated that a formal public apology and Nazmul’s complete removal from the board are non-negotiable demands.
The standoff has placed the BCB under immense pressure. “The board remains fully committed to upholding the honour and dignity of all players,” the BCB said in its statement, urging cricketers to return to the field and protect the integrity of the BPL. “The decision is aimed at ensuring the continued smooth and effective functioning of the board’s affairs.”
