Chattogram Royals ownership crisis puts BCB under pressure

The team was set to practice at Sylhet International Stadium, but Triangle Services, the franchise owner, abruptly pulled out, leaving the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to assume temporary control under significant pressure, confirmed BPL Governing Council Secretary Iftikhar Rahman Mithu.

According to BPL rules, franchises must pay players’ salaries in three installments, with 25% due before the tournament begins. So far, only Rangpur Riders (50%), Rajshahi Warriors (25%), and Dhaka Capitals (25%) have made payments. Noakhali Express is scheduled to pay 25% on December 25.

Chattogram Royals, however, failed to pay their players, largely due to the inability to secure sponsors, as franchise owner Abdul Kaiyum admitted in a letter to BCB.

“They (Chattogram franchise) said they are in serious financial trouble because they could not find sponsors. Over the past month, rumors about their integrity have circulated in the press and social media, which prevented them from raising funds,” Mithu explained.

Following the ownership takeover, BCB replaced Habibul Bashar Sumon from the technical committee and appointed him as team director. Mizanur Rahman Babul has been made head coach, and Nafees Iqbal has been assigned as team manager.

“We are under pressure. Two to three hours before, a team informs us they cannot financially support themselves, intense pressure. Yet, we managed to remove Habibul Bashar from the technical committee and bring coach Babul and manager Nafees Iqbal from Dhaka within two hours. The franchise’s letter has been sent to our legal team,” Mithu added.