The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) governing council has officially removed Chattogram as a venue for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. This decision follows a two-day postponement of matches due to the passing of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
Current BPL Schedule After Removing Chattogram
Matches will continue to be held in Sylhet until January 12, 2026. After this date, Dhaka will host additional matches, culminating in the playoffs and the final scheduled for January 23.
Reasons for Venue Change
Iftekhar Rahman, the member secretary of BPL, outlined two main factors influencing this decision:
- The recent postponement of matches necessitated additional time to relocate broadcast equipment to Chattogram.
- There is a critical need to prepare the Bangladesh team for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which follows the conclusion of the BPL.
Rahman emphasized that the scheduling was tight. “We had to consider the impact of shifting from Sylhet to Chattogram,” he stated. The need for relocation of broadcast equipment alone would require at least two days. Rahman added it was essential to keep the BPL final date fixed to allow adequate preparation for the national team.
Challenges Faced This Season
This season of the BPL has experienced various challenges. Notably, the owner of Chattogram Royals relinquished the franchise just one day before the tournament commenced on December 26. Additionally, there were issues with practice facilities that led to Noakhali Express coach Khaled Mahmud walking out of the tournament.
Further highlighting the difficulties, tragedy struck when Mahbub Ali Zaki, assistant coach of Dhaka Capitals, passed away shortly before a match against Rajshahi Warriors.
The governing council aims to navigate these complications to ensure a successful conclusion to the ongoing BPL season, while maintaining focus on player readiness for international commitments.
