BCB to exclude A+ category from men's central contract list
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided to exclude A+ category from the upcoming men's central contract list due to scarcity of all-format cricketers.
BCB's cricket operation committee prepared a list of 27 cricketers that they are eyeing to include in the contract list for 2026. The contract list and the new salary structure is yet to be approved by the board but Cricbuzz has learnt that unlike the past, there won't be any A+ category in the upcoming central contract list.
In 2025, BCB had decided to bring changes to the central contract structure as the board returned to the universal grading system by bracketing their players into five categories - A+, A, B, C and D - instead of Test, ODI and T20I categories that were in place earlier.
"We are not having any A+ category in the central contract this year," a BCB official, working closely with the development, confirmed to Cricbuzz on Saturday. "None of our cricketers are currently playing across all three formats regularly which was one of the prerequisites to get into the A+ bracket of the central contract We have prepared a list of 27 cricketers and now waiting for the final approval of the board," he said.
Mahmudullah, who was included in the central contract in 2025 till February, was not included in the new contract list as he retired from all formats, while all the other 21 members who were part of the previous central contract list, managed to make a cut in the new list.
Apart from them, six more cricketers were also added to the list - Shamim Hossain Patwary, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hasan, Nayeem Hasan, Tanvir Islam, and Hasan Murad.
Probable list: Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Litton Kumar Das, Taskin Ahmed, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Towhid Hridoy, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, Shadman Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shoriful Islam, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Khaled Ahmed, Shamim Hossain Patwary, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hasan, Nayeem Hasan, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Murad.
BCB set to launch ODOMMO Bangladesh T20 Cup 2026 from Feb 5
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board announced on Saturday that they are launching a three-team ODOMMO Bangladesh T20 Cup 2026 from February 5.
The tournament is expected to bring together the best players of this format in the country and promises high-intensity cricket. This comes after the cricketers were clearly disappointed after failing to take part in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup.
The teams are - Dhumketu XI, which will be led by Bangladesh T20 captain Litton Das, Durbar XI, captained by Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Duronto XI, which has Akbar Ali as captain.
"Three teams will feature in this exciting competition with prize money and fees worth Taka 2.5 Crore," said BCB in a statement. An official added that these efforts were taken so that the competition does not turn out to be a friendly affair.
"We will be giving match fees along with other things. We are expecting to announce a good amount as prize money and all these efforts are taken to make sure that the tournament is competitive," said the official.
BCB added that ODOMMO Bangladesh T20 Cup introduces a new Impact Player concept, adding a tactical edge to the game experience. The three group phase matches are scheduled on February 5, 6 and 7 while the final is slated on February 9.
A BCB official added that they are looking to hold a fitness camp at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium from Sunday (February 1) ahead of the tournament.
