BCB dismiss possibilities of rebel league

A Bangladesh Cricket Board official on Tuesday brushed aside the possibilities of a rebel cricket league in the country. The possibility of a rebel league was thought of after 44 clubs decided not to take part in any kind of league organized by the board headed by Aminul Islam as they alleged that the current elected board is illegal.

On Tuesday, the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis, a committee of BCB entrusted with the responsibilities of hosting Dhaka-based leagues, announced that the Dhaka First Division Cricket League 2025-26 has been rescheduled for two days as eight clubs failed to participate in the league matches, resulting in walkovers in their respective fixtures.

The second phase was scheduled on 17 and 18 December as per the initial itinerary but now the game is shifted from 19 December as the CCDM is expected to sit with the 12 clubs today. Initially, 20 clubs were the participating teams and the official Fixture for two rounds was duly prepared and circulated on 11 December 2025.

During the opening phase of the league, eight clubs - Partex Sporting Club, Gazi Tyres Cricket Academy, Amber Sporting Club, Kalabagan Krira Chakra, Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity, Surjotorun Club, Kakrail Boys Club, Orient Sporting Club - failed to participate in the league matches, resulting in walkovers in their respective fixtures.

"Considering the changed circumstances, the DFDCL Technical Committee has decided that the matches scheduled for the next round on 17 and 18 December 2025 will be postponed," BCB said in a statement.

As per the DFDCL Rules & Regulations & Match Playing Conditions 2025-26, the relevant walkover clause clearly states that any team failing to appear for scheduled matches and receiving walkovers shall be treated as non-participating and such teams shall be relegated with the relegation becoming effective from the next season and will participate in the Dhaka 2nd Division Cricket League. In accordance with this rule, the aforementioned teams stand relegated and consequently, no relegation league will be held in the ongoing Dhaka First Division Cricket League 2025-26.

The eight clubs are among the 44 protesting clubs that are not ready to take part in any BCB backed tournament and in the recent past, officials of these clubs insisted that they are ready to play a separate league organized all by themselves. Dismissing the feasibility of an independently run league outside the board's jurisdiction, BCB vice-president Faruque Ahmed stressed the importance of recognised governing bodies in the sport.

"If they (protesting clubs) organize it (separate league) by themselves then there is actually no need for the cricket board," Faruque told reporters on Tuesday. "You know then there would be no need for the Bangladesh Cricket Board, and no need for the ICC either. What would be the need for the International Cricket Council? India could decide whether to play Pakistan or everyone else, then there would be no need for any governing body at all," he said.

"So for any sport there is a governing body, a committee. That governing body for Bangladesh's cricket is the Bangladesh Cricket Board," he added.

CCDM chairman Adnan Rahman Dipon echoed similar views, questioning the legitimacy of any league conducted outside the BCB framework. "I think many people are living in a fool's paradise who are thinking of organizing rebel cricket league," said Adnan. "If it's just Sunday cricket or Friday cricket, then yes, that can be done. But who organises an official cricket league? CCDM does it, by the Board. If the clubs want to organise a separate league on their own, who will the ICC approve - the Board's league or theirs? I'm leaving that question," he said.

"They are all registered players under the board. Now, if they want to organize a rebel league, that's their personal matter. But the ICC will not approve it, and the Bangladesh Cricket Board will not approve it either. So it is not a legal league," he added.