The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to hold a crucial meeting where one of the major topics of discussion will centre on the cricket operations department. The department, which has recently drawn considerable scrutiny over the national team’s performances, is currently headed by Nazmul Abedin Fahim. Following Bangladesh’s four consecutive T20 series wins, Fahim was retained as the head of cricket operations after the last BCB election. However, in light of the national team’s recent failures, both his role and authority are now under serious review.
Questions have also arisen regarding the position of Mohammad Salahuddin, the senior assistant coach of the national side. Despite being the highest-paid local coach—earning nearly 1 million taka a month—Salahuddin’s effectiveness has come under fire amid the team’s ongoing batting struggles. While BCB is not yet prepared to make a decisive move, sources confirm that discussions about his potential replacement have already begun. Interestingly, rather than bringing in another foreign coach, BCB is considering appointing a local coach to fill the batting coach position, with former national captain Mohammad Ashraful emerging as the leading candidate.
BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul recently told the media in Mirpur, during the final ODI against the West Indies, that former ICC coaching instructor Ashley Ross—who conducted a training course in Bangladesh last September—had named several promising prospects for the national team’s future coaching roles. These include Mahmudullah Riyad, Ashraful, Shahriar Nafees, Hannan Sarkar, and Tushar Imran. Since Mahmudullah has not yet completed his Level-3 coaching certification, Ashraful currently leads the shortlist for the national batting coach post.
The meeting will also finalise key matters related to the upcoming 2026 Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Out of 11 companies that initially expressed interest in franchise ownership, three have been disqualified after the preliminary screening process. Eight remain in contention, but BCB plans to approve no more than six. The official list of approved franchises may be announced tomorrow following formal approval in today’s board session.
| Disqualified Companies | Applied Team | Reason for Disqualification |
|---|---|---|
| SQ Sports | Chattogram Kings | Failed qualification review |
| Bangla Mark Limited | Noakhali | Documentation deficiencies |
| Mindtree Limited | Khulna | Financial eligibility issues |
According to franchise insiders, the most likely teams to receive approval are Rangpur Riders (Toggi Sports Ltd/Bashundhara Group), Rajshahi (Nabil Group), Barishal (Akashbari Holidays), Chattogram (Triangle Services), and Sylhet (JM Sports). If a six-team format is confirmed, the BPL is expected to start on 19 or 21 December. A five-team structure would likely push the tournament back by a week. The player draft is tentatively scheduled for 18 or 24 November.
