United News of Bangladesh

A group of nine local cricketers has been excluded from the Bangladesh Premier League’s (BPL) final auction list after a series of anti-corruption investigations flagged their involvement in suspected fixing activities in last season’s tournament. The exclusions follow an extensive probe led by the BCB’s three-member independent investigation committee, headed by former Appellate Division judge Mirza Hussain Haider. The committee examined alleged irregularities from the previous BPL and identified nine Bangladeshi and one foreign player as suspects. Their names were forwarded for further inquiry by Alex Marshall, the BCB’s anti-corruption consultant and former ICC anti-corruption chief. Read more: BCB finalizes 5 franchises for upcoming BPL season Based on Marshall’s findings, the BPL governing council removed nine locally contracted players from the final auction pool. Most had already appeared in the preliminary list but were omitted when the final roll was released on the eve of this year’s auction. The suspected group includes several players with previous national-team experience and multiple domestic regulars. Among them are personnel noted as “red-flagged” by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit. While not all were accused of direct fixing, their activities and access patterns raised concerns within the investigative review. Read more: Sameer Quader says ‘46 crore’ claim makes no sense, keeps BPL door open The governing council has instructed franchises not to involve any red-flagged personnel in team operations this season. Those named in suspicion will not be allowed in team areas, dressing rooms, or other restricted spaces. While the barred players may continue participating in other domestic competitions, they will not feature in this BPL. The 12th BPL auction is scheduled on Sunday (November 30) at a Dhaka hotel. Read more: BPL drops players linked to fixing allegations from final auction list

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has approved the disbursement of prize money and ticket sale revenue to the seven franchises that took part in the 2025 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20. The decision was made during an emergency meeting of the Board held on May 31, following a detailed review of each franchise’s financial status. Pakistan complete series sweep with dominant win over Bangladesh The BCB stated that outstanding franchise fees will be deducted prior to releasing the funds, with an emphasis on ensuring timely payments to players, particularly those selected through the BPL draft.

Chittagong Kings openers laid a solid partnership of 121 runs while batting first in the final of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Friday in Dhaka, and riding on their foundation, the Kings posted a challenging total of 194 for three vs Fortune Barishal. Fortune Barishal won the toss and opted to bowl first. Their plan did not work as the Kings' openers, Khawaja Nafay and Parvez Hossain Emon, laid a strong foundation.

Since December 30, 2024, the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025 T20 Cricket Tournament has been spellbinding cricket fans with exciting performances. As the competition progresses towards Phase 4, standout players and teams have begun to shape the narrative. Let’s dive into the brilliance of the standout bowlers, batsmen, and teams leading the race. Bangladesh Premier League 2025 Tournaments Top 5 Batsmen To Date . Table: Top Run-scorers in the 11th Edition of BPL So Far No Batsman Team Most Run Match Highest Score Century Half Century 1 Tanzid Hasan Tamim Dhaka Capitals 420 10 108 1 3 2 Mohammad Anamul Haque Bijoy Durbar Rajshahi 379 10 100 1 2 3 Litton Das Dhaka Capitals 348 9 125 1 2 4 Zakir Hasan Sylhet Strikers 342 9 75 - 3 5 Graham Clark Chittagong Kings 335 8 101 1 1 The T20 cricket action has been a stage for outstanding batting displays, with Tanzid Hasan Tamim from Dhaka Capitals taking the lead. His collection is 420 runs in 10 matches, including a highest score of 108. He has one century and three half-centuries to his name. Mohammad Anamul Haque Bijoy from Durbar Rajshahi follows closely with 379 runs in 10 matches. His highest score of 100 and ability to deliver one century and two half-centuries underline his value. Litton Das, also from Dhaka Capitals, has 348 runs in 9 matches, with a remarkable performance of 125 runs. Apart from the century inning, he has 2 half-centuries in the remaining matches. Zakir Hasan from Sylhet Strikers has scored 342 runs in 9 matches, though without a century. He maintains a steady performance with 3 half-centuries including a top score of 75 runs. Finally, Graham Clark, an English player who played for Chittagong Kings, completes the list with 335 runs in 8 matches. His achievement also includes a half-century and the best batting delivery with a Centurion inning of 101 runs. Read more: BPL Football: 9th round begins Friday with leaders Mohammedan taking on Youngmen’s Club Top 5 Bowlers in the Ongoing BPL 2025 Tournament . Table: Leading Wicket-takers in the 11th edition of BPL Before Phase 4 No Bowler Team Wickets Match Overs Best Bowling in Innings 1 Taskin Ahmed Durbar Rajshahi 22 10 38.2 7/19 2 Akif Javed Rangpur Riders 15 7 26.5 4/32 3 Abu Hider Rony Khulna Tigers 15 8 30.5 4/44 4 Khushdil Shah Rangpur Riders 14 9 24 3/18 5 Aliss Al Islam Chittagong Kings 12 8 31 3/17 The bowlers have been equally influential in the tournament, with Taskin Ahmed of Durbar Rajshahi dominating the charts. He bowled 38 overs and 2 balls in 10 matches, securing 22 wickets with a personal best of 7 wickets against 19 runs. Akif Javed, Pakistani cricketer on behalf of Rangpur Riders is second with 15 wickets in 7 matches from 26 overs and 5 balls. He boasts a best figure of 4 wickets in 32 runs. Abu Hider Rony from Khulna Tigers also claimed 15 wickets in 30 overs 5 balls of 8 matches. His top spell was 44 runs off 4 wickets. Rangpur Riders' Khushdil Shah, a Pakistani player by origin, takes the fourth spot with 14 wickets in 24 overs across 9 matches. In an innings, he reached a maximum of 18 runs from 3 wickets. Aliss Al Islam of Chittagong Kings rounds off the top five with 12 wickets in 8 matches, bowling 31 overs. His personal best for an innings was 17 runs for 3 wickets. Read more: BPL Football: League leaders Mohammedan SC taste first defeat losing to Youngmen's Club Top 4 Teams in the 11th Edition of Bangladesh Premier League So Far . Table: Points Table Standings - Top 4 Teams Before Phase 4 of BPL 2025 No Team Match Won Lost Points Net Run Rate (NRR) 1 Rangpur Riders 9 8 1 16 1.223 2 Fortune Barishal 8 6 2 12 0.993 3 Chittagong Kings 9 5 4 10 1.045 4 Khulna Tigers 9 4 5 8 -0.148 The tournament is led by Rangpur Riders, who have won all but one of 9 matches, earning 16 points and the season's highest NRR of 1.223. Fortune Barishal holds second place with 6 wins from 8 matches, accumulating 12 points and an NRR of 0.993. Chittagong Kings sit third, with 5 wins and 4 losses from 9 matches, earning 10 points and maintaining an NRR of 1.045. Khulna Tigers round out the top 4, securing 4 wins and 8 points from 9 matches. However, their 5 losses have left them with a negative NRR of -0.148. Read more: 10th Shah Cement AKS Cup Golf Tournament begins Summary The BPL 2025’s best performers to date include batsmen Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mohammad Anamul Haque Bijoy, Litton Das, Zakir Hasan, and Graham Clark. Sitting atop the bowling charts with the highest wickets are Taskin Ahmed, Akif Javed, Abu Hider Rony, Khushdil Shah, and Aliss Al Islam. The teams dominating the competition are the Rangpur Riders, Fortune Barishal, Chittagong Kings, and Khulna Tigers. The 2025 Bangladesh Premier League will end on February 7. It is expected that the T20 Tournament will keep the cricket fans entertained with magical performances and exciting records. Read more: BPL Cricket: Durbar Rajshahi inflict first defeat of the season on leaders Rangpur Riders

Defending champions of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Fortune Barishal, beat Sylhet Strikers by seven wickets on Tuesday in Sylhet. It was Barishal’s third win in the event in four matches. They are now in second place in the points table right behind Rangpur Riders who won five out of five matches they have played. Sylhet batted first and tumbled for a modest 125 in 18.2 overs. Jahandad Khan was the best bowler for Barishal taking three wickets in his three overs. He bagged the crucial wickets of George Munsey, 28 off 13, and Aaron Jones, who suffered a duck. Rishad Hossain also impressed with 3 wickets for 15 runs, while Faheem Ashraf contributed by taking two wickets for 23 runs. Sylhet failed to build partnerships when they needed it most. They were 76 for two, but from there, they collapsed to 125 all out. George Munsey and Zakir Hasan provided brief resistance, with Munsey smashing 28 off 13 and Zakir adding 25 off 26. BPL: Usman Khan’s ton power Chittagong Kings' big win over Durbar Rajshahi While chasing, Barishal lost Tamim Iqbal for a golden duck. Najmul Hossain Shanto also fell for only four runs. But Kyle Mayers and Towhid Hridoy steered the chase with a dominating 116-run partnership. Mayers remained unbeaten on 59 off 31, hitting five fours and four sixes, while Hridoy contributed 48 off 27 with eight boundaries and two sixes. Barishal reached the target in just 10.3 overs, with 7 wickets to spare.

Rangpur Riders won their fifth match in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Tuesday beating Dhaka Capitals by 7 wickets in Sylhet. It was the Riders’ fifth win in the fifth match, and in contrast, it was the fourth defeat of Dhaka in as many matches. Nahid Rana took three wickets for 21 runs for the Riders to seal the game for them. Opting to bowl first, Rangpur’s bowlers, led by Rana, dismantled Dhaka’s batting lineup, restricting them to a mere 111 runs in 16.3 overs. The other Rangpur bowlers provided strong support. Akif Javed and Khushdil Shah took two wickets each, while Mahedi Hasan and Kamrul Islam Rabbi picked up one apiece. Dhaka made a promising start with Jason Roy, 18 off 12, and Tanzid Hasan, 20 off 16, making a good impression. But they lost wickets on regular intervals that prevented them from making good partnerships. Read: Hales guides Rangpur Riders to big win over Sylhet Chasing 112, Rangpur Riders made quick work of the target. Alex Hales played a steady hand with 44 off 27 balls, smashing four boundaries and three sixes. Khushdil Shah ensured a swift finish, scoring an unbeaten 27 off 13 balls with four fours and a six. Riders reached the target in just 13.2 overs, finishing at 113 for 3 with 40 balls to spare. Azizul Hakim (5) and Saif Hassan (13) also contributed for them, but Hales and Khushdil were the main contributors in the chase. While the Riders are continuing on their winning streak, Dhaka have been struggling to make a good show in this BPL so far.

Taskin Ahmed produced a spell for the ages as Durbar Rajshahi defeated Dhaka Capitals by seven wickets in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Thursday. Dhaka batters had no clue against Taskin who bagged seven for only 19 runs— the best bowling figures in BPL’s history.  While making the record, Taskin took four wickets in his first three overs. When returning to bowl the last over of the innings, he bagged three more wickets conceding only two runs.  He struck early, dismissing Litton Das and Tanzid Hasan in quick succession to reduce Dhaka to  14 for 2. Despite efforts by Stephen Eskinazi, 46 off 29, and Shahadat Hossain, 50 off 41, Dhaka struggled to recover against Taskin's precision. Taskin's 7-wicket-haul blitz shatters BPL record The pacer returned in the death overs to claim three more wickets, restricting Dhaka to 174 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Taskin's remarkable figures surpassed Mohammad Amir’s 6 for 18 in 2020, making him the standout bowler in BPL history and earning him the Player of the Match award. While chasing, Rajshahi lost quick wickets but captain Anamul Haque led the chase with a 73 off 46 balls. He hit a fifty in the previous match for Rajshahi too.  Anamul found an able partner in Ryan Burl, who smashed an unbeaten 55 off 33 balls. The duo added an unbeaten 106-run stand for the fourth wicket, which ensured the win for them with 11 balls to play. Dhaka’s bowlers struggled to make an impact, with Mustafizur Rahman and Alauddin Babu picking up one wicket each. Mukidul Islam was expensive, conceding 37 runs in just 3.1 overs.  

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed has reassured players participating in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) that they will receive their payments despite several franchises failing to pay the first installment of their contracts on time. According to the payment schedule, franchises are required to pay 50% of a player’s fee before the tournament begins, 25% during the competition, and the remaining amount after its conclusion. The seven-team league kicked off on December 30. Faruque, who became BCB president in August and a former Bangladesh captain, confirmed the ongoing discussions with the franchises to resolve the issue. Read: Taskin's 7-wicket-haul blitz shatters BPL record However, he refrained from providing specific reasons why most franchises, except Fortune Barishal, failed to meet the bank guarantee requirement mandated by the BCB. This guarantee ensures that players are paid by the board if franchises default on payments. Although the BCB has utilised bank guarantees in previous seasons to cover unpaid dues, the absence of such guarantees this year has raised concerns about players’ financial security. "We have been engaging with the franchise owners from the outset," Faruque said. "I’ve emphasised that payments must be made. If you ask me to give a definitive reason why they didn’t provide the bank guarantee, I can’t. One has to consider the broader circumstances of the last four months." The BCB president assured that measures were being taken to address the issue. "This doesn’t mean players will go unpaid. We have adopted various strategies to work with the franchises. I’ve personally reached out as the board president to ensure they see us as partners. They are investing in Bangladesh cricket as well," he added. Read more: Defending champions Barishal start BPL with thumping win over Rajshahi The payment controversy follows a ticketing mishap on the tournament’s opening day, which led to agitated fans damaging the main gate of the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Source: With inputs from ESPNCrickinfo

Excitement is building as the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) prepares for its 2025 season. The player draft for this eleventh edition, held on October 14, 2024, at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Dhaka, saw top talents strategically picked by each team. With squads now taking shape, teams are gearing up for the tournament’s launch on December 27, 2024. Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the chance to see their favorite stars in action. Here, we dive into the standout changes from this year’s player draft and how they’re set to impact team dynamics and signing deals. BPL 2025 Players Draft Highlights The payout system for cricketers in categories A, B, and C has experienced notable reductions this season. Category A athletes will now earn BDT 6 million, a decrease from BDT 8 million. In Category B, salaries have been trimmed by BDT 1 million, resulting in a new total of BDT 4 million. Meanwhile, Category C players will take home BDT 2.5 million, instead of BDT 3 million. In contrast, the remuneration for categories D, E, and F remains constant at BDT 2 million, BDT 1.5 million, and BDT 1 million, respectively. Leading the charge in Category A are prominent figures such as Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Mahmudullah. Notably, Rishad's ascent from Category E to Category A is significant. This category features a total of 12 players. Section B is also home to 12 players, showcasing talents like Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Tanzim Sakib, Afif Hossain, and Jaker Ali. Meanwhile, Section C comprises 22 players, including esteemed cricketers such as Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, and Saifuddin. Categories D, E, and F collectively include 28, 51, and 63 players, respectively. Read more: Ireland Women's Cricket arrives here on Nov 22 to play three-match ODI, T20I series with Bangladesh This season marks the absence of the Comilla Victorians, with Durbar Rajshahi stepping in to fill the void. The Dhaka team will now be competing as Dhaka Capitals under the ownership of film star Shakib Khan’s Remarque Harlan. Joining the league is the rebranded Chittagong Kings, formerly the Chattogram Challengers. According to The Business Standard, 440 overseas players are listed for selection. Among them, 20 elite players in the top A category could earn up to USD 70,000, roughly BDT 8.3 million (USD 1 = BDT 119.56). The highest remuneration for overseas players was USD 80,000 in the 2024 draft. Category B includes 38 players, Category C has 66, Category D features 135, and Category E lists 181 cricketers. The pay structure for these categories is outlined as follows: - USD 50,000 (around BDT 5.9 million) for the B category- USD 30,000 (approximately BDT 3.5 million) for the C category- USD 25,000 (nearly BDT 2.9 million) for the D category- USD 15,000 (BDT 1.7 million) for the E category. Read more: First batch of Bangladesh cricketers in Dubai to play ODI series against Afghanistan BPL 2025 All Teams Full Squad Table: Overview of the list of Bangladeshi and overseas players in BPL 2025 Team Name Bangladeshi Players Foreign Players Dhaka Capitals Direct Signings - Mustafizur Rahman- Tanzid Hasan Tamim From the Draft - Liton Das (C)- Habibur Rahman Sohan- Mukidul Islam- Abu Jayed- Sabbir Rahman- Musfik Hasan- Munim Shahriar- Shahadat Hossain- Asif Hasan- Rahmatullah Direct Signings - Johnson Charles- Stephen Eskinazi- Thisara Perera- Amir Hamza- Shahnawaz Dahani From the Draft - Saim Ayub- Mir Hamza- Farmanullah- Zahoor Khan- Chaturanga de Silva- Riaz Hassan- Shubham Ranjane Chittagong Kings Direct Signings - Shakib Al Hasan (C)- Shoriful Islam From the Draft - Shamim Hossain- Parvez Hossain Emon- Khaled Ahmed- Naeem Islam- Aliss Islam- Mohammad Mithun- Maruf Mridha- Rahatul Ferdous- Sheikh Parvez Jibon- Marshall Ayub Direct Signings - Moeen Ali- Angelo Mathews- Usman Khan- Mohammad Wasim- Haider Ali- Binura Fernando From the Draft - Graham Clark- Tom O'Connell- Khawaja Nafay- Lahiru Milantha- Zubaid Akbari Fortune Barishal Retaining Players - Tamim Iqbal (C)- Mushfiqur Rahim Direct Signings - Towhid Hridoy From the Draft - Nazmul Hossain Shanto- Mahmudullah Riad- Ripon Mondol- Tanvir Islam- Rishad Hossain- Taijul Islam- Ebadot Hossain- Nayeem Hasan- Shohidul Islam- Ariful Islam- Pritom Kumar Direct Signings - Mohammad Nabi- Kyle Mayers- Dawid Malan- Faheem Ashraf- Mohammad Ali- Jahandad Khan From the Draft - James Fuller- Pathum Nissanka- Mohammad Imran Khulna Tigers Retaining Players - Nasum Ahmed- Afif Hossain Direct Signings - Mehidy Hasan Miraz (C) From the Draft - Hasan Mahmud- Naim Sheikh- Imrul Kayes- Mahmudul Hasan Joy- Mahidul Islam Ankon- Abu Hider Rony- Mahfuzur Rahman Rabby- Ziaur Rahman- Rubel Hossain Direct Signings - Oshane Thomas From the Draft - Mohammad Nawaz- Mohammad Hasnain- Lewis Gregory Sylhet Strikers Retaining Players - Tanzim Hasan Sakib- Zakir Hasan Direct Signings - Jaker Ali Anik From the Draft - Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (C)- Rony Talukder- Arafat Sunny- Al-Amin Hossain- Ruyel Miah- Ariful Haque- Nihaduzzaman- Nahidul Islam Direct Signings - Paul Stirling- George Munsey From the Draft - Samiullah Shinwari- Rahkeem Cornwall- Reece Topley Rangpur Riders Retaining Players - Nurul Hasan Sohan (C)- Mahedi Hasan Direct Signings - Mohammad Saifuddin From the Draft - Nahid Rana- Saif Hassan- Soumya Sarkar- Rakibul Hasan- Irfan Sukkur- Tawfique Khan- Kamrul Islam Rabbi- Rejaur Rahman Raja Direct Signings - Khushdil Shah- Allah Ghazanfar- Alex Hales- Saurabh Netravalkar- Steven Taylor From the Draft - Iftikhar Ahmed- Akif Javed- Curtis Campher- Sediqullah Atal Durbar Rajshahi Direct Signings - Anamul Haque Bijoy (C) From the Draft - Akbar Ali- Taskin Ahmed- Jishan Alam- Sunzamul Islam- SM Meherob- Yasir Ali- Hasan Murad- Mohor Sheikh- Sabbir Hossain- Shafiul Islam- Mizanur Rahman- Zahiduzzaman- Asaduzzaman Payel From the Draft - Saad Nasim- Lahiru Samarakoon Read more: BCB meeting: Several lose directorship, resignation of three accepted Signing Amounts of Some Key Players The Dhaka Capitals have brought on Mustafizur Rahman and Tanzid Hasan Tamim with contracts valued at BDT 6 million and BDT 4 million, respectively. Meanwhile, the Chattogram Kings secured Shakib Al Hasan and Shoriful Islam, each for BDT 6 million. Defending champions, Fortune Barishal, retained Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, and added Towhid Hridoy to their lineup, with all three earning BDT 6 million. The Sylhet Strikers kept local favorites Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Zakir Hasan and signed Jaker Ali directly. Tanzim and Jaker’s contract is settled at BDT 4 million each, while Zakir’s remuneration is set at BDT 2.5 million. For Khulna Tigers, Nasum Ahmed and Afif Hossain were brought back at BDT 2.5 million and BDT 4 million, respectively, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz joining the team for BDT 6 million. Former champions Rangpur Riders retained Nurul Hasan Sohan and Mahedi Hasan at BDT 4 million each and secured Mohammad Saifuddin for BDT 2.5 million. Durbar Rajshahi completed their lineup by enlisting Anamul Haque Bijoy for BDT 4 million. Read more: Pre-Draft Signings: Who’s joining each BPL team for 2025? Wrapping Up The BPL 2025 Players Draft significantly impacts both team squads and the players' financial aspects. Local players’ highest salaries drop to BDT 6 million, while foreign players' maximum earnings are set at USD 50,000. The league witnessed the exit of the Comilla Victorians, making way for Durbar Rajshahi. The Dhaka team has been rebranded as the Dhaka Capitals, now under the ownership of Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan. Overall, the draft features 188 local players and 440 overseas players vying for a spot in the tournament. Read more: Series against Afghanistan: Bangladesh back in Sharjah after three decades to restore some pride

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has received its fair share of criticism over the years, but the head coach of the Bangladesh national team has gone further, saying he turns off TV when he sees BPL. In a recent interview with ESPNCricinfo, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha expressed his disappointment with the culture T20 events. “There has to be some regulation,” he said. “A player is playing one tournament and then playing another tournament. It's like a circus.” Hathurusingha clearly outlined his frustration with Bangladesh “not having a proper T20 tournament.” He goes so far as to say, “This sounds very odd, but when I'm watching the BPL, I sometimes turn off the TV. Some players are not even of the class. I have a big issue with the current system.” The coach emphasized the need for a T20 event where Bangladeshi bowlers can practice bowling in the death overs, and where Bangladeshi batters can gain experience batting at the top of the order. Read more: BPL Spectacle: What Makes Tawhid Shine with a Century? “A franchise does what it wants,” Hathurusingha added. “Some of my best players are not playing (the BPL). So then how do you expect the Bangladesh team to be up with the other teams? I am fighting a steep battle.” The BPL 2024 has entered the playoffs, with the eliminator and the first qualifier taking place in Dhaka on February 27. Right after BPL, Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka in a full series — three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests. Hathurusingha believes the series against Sri Lanka will see the real rivalry in the field, but he also mentioned that Bangladesh will be underdog against Sri Lanka in T20Is. “We are developing as a T20 team. We are underdogs, to be honest. It is a good challenge for us. I am still confident we will give them a good fight. We will understand where we are at, ahead of the World Cup, after this series,” Hathurusingha added in the interview. Read more: BPL Mid-Season Standout Stars: Naim, Shoriful Lead as Tournament Shifts to Chattogram