BCB allows Durbar Rajshahi to break law and field XI consisting only local players
Captain Taskin Ahmed admitted during the toss that the team had undergone several changes due to the unavailability of their overseas stars.
Drama unfolded at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on 26 January when Durbar Rajshahi fielded a team without any overseas players for their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match against Rangpur Riders.
The last-minute development stemmed from a pay dispute, as Rajshahi's foreign recruits refused to take the field over unpaid wages.
Rajshahi's players and management arrived at the ground well ahead of the scheduled start, but the absence of their overseas contingent was glaring. Head coach Ejaz Ahmed was the only foreign representative present. Despite ongoing concerns, the match commenced after Rajshahi received special permission from the tournament's technical committee to play solely with domestic players.
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The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a media release addressing the situation:
"Durbar Rajshahi Granted Permission to Field All Local Players in BPL 2025 Match Against Rangpur Riders. DHAKA, Sunday, 26 January:
The Durbar Rajshahi team, currently competing in the 2025 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20, has applied to the BPL Technical Committee for special approval to field a team consisting solely of Bangladeshi players for today's match against Rangpur Riders due to the non-availability of overseas players.
After a review of the request and in accordance with the provisions outlined in Clause 1.2.8 of the Match Playing Conditions of BPL 2024-25, the Technical Committee has granted approval for Durbar Rajshahi to field a team consisting of only Bangladeshi players for this match."
It was confirmed that Rajshahi's foreign players, including notable names such as Mohammad Haris, Ryan Burl, Mark Deyal, and Aftab Alam, remained at the team hotel, refusing to participate until their payments were settled.
Captain Taskin Ahmed admitted during the toss that the team had undergone several changes due to the unavailability of their overseas stars.
The controversy had been brewing for weeks, with Rajshahi repeatedly failing to meet payment deadlines. While the franchise had assured the BCB of fulfilling its financial obligations, reports suggest only partial payments had been made to domestic players. A photo shared by Anamul Haque Bijoy on social media showed local players smiling with payment envelopes in hand, but no clarity was provided on the situation involving overseas recruits.
The players' grievances extended beyond unpaid wages, with allegations of inadequate facilities, including a lack of standardised kit bags and appropriate winter clothing during practice sessions, adding to the discontent.
Rajshahi's payment crisis reached its peak on the morning of 26 January. Reports emerged that players had checked out of their hotel after being informed late at night about a change in accommodation. Tensions escalated when speculation grew that the team might not take the field without their dues being cleared.
BPL regulations mandate that each playing XI must include at least two overseas players, with a maximum of four. Rajshahi's inability to meet this requirement initially cast doubt on the match's viability. However, organisers permitted the team to proceed with an all-domestic line-up to avoid disruption to the schedule.
