Expectations soared for Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025 after political upheavals in the country, with organisers promising the finest edition of the tournament.
However, in stark contrast to those grand assurances, this year’s BPL has been dubbed the most disorganised and controversial in its history.
Despite the presence of international stars and thrilling matches, the league's reputation has been tarnished by unpaid player salaries, allegations of match-fixing, and administrative failures.
Franchises have been accused of severe mismanagement, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has faced criticism for its lack of oversight.
As the controversy peaked, BCB President Faruque Ahmed admitted to shortcomings, but the critical question remains—will he take responsibility and resign?
Unpaid Salaries and Organisational Failure
The most contentious issue plaguing this year’s tournament has been the failure to pay players.
Several franchises have either delayed or outright withheld salaries, leaving both local and foreign cricketers in distress.
Some overseas players, after prolonged waits, boycotted training sessions, while others refused to take the field.
The situation escalated when BCB officials initially downplayed concerns, only for Faruque Ahmed to acknowledge mismanagement as public outrage grew. However, his mere expression of regret has done little to assuage the grievances of unpaid players and disillusioned stakeholders.
Fixing Allegations Further Tarnish BPL’s Image
Beyond financial disputes, the league has been clouded by allegations of spot-fixing.
Reports suggest that multiple players may have been involved in match manipulation, prompting the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to launch an investigation.
While no official findings have been disclosed, the speculation alone has severely damaged the credibility of the tournament.
Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud has vowed to take stringent legal action against anyone found guilty.
Meanwhile, the National Sports Council has formed a special committee to investigate the financial discrepancies and contractual violations.
Calls for Resignation Grow Louder
Veteran sports journalist Shamim Chowdhury, with over three decades of experience covering cricket, has been vocal in his criticism of the tournament's mismanagement.
Speaking to Sports Bangla, he remarked, “The BPL was launched in a rushed and unplanned manner. The franchise selection process was reckless, and no financial guarantees were ensured. Previous editions did not suffer such chaos. Faruque Ahmed promised the greatest BPL, but instead, it became the most scandalous one.”
Shamim Chowdhury insists that the BCB president must take accountability and step down.
“This level of organisational failure cannot be brushed aside with an apology. Who else should bear the burden of this disaster? His resignation is the only logical course of action.”
Adding to the controversy, BCB’s Head of Game Development, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, departed for an overseas trip during the tournament, raising questions about the seriousness of the governing body.
The fallout from these missteps has even placed the new interim government in an uncomfortable position, as the BPL fiasco reflects poorly on the country’s sporting administration.
With growing calls for structural reforms in BCB and demands for Faruque Ahmed’s resignation, the fate of Bangladesh’s premier T20 tournament hangs in the balance.
Mere admissions of failure will not suffice—concrete actions must follow to restore credibility. The ball is now in the BCB president’s court—will he act or simply wait for the storm to pass?
